The Cross River Government says it is strengthening agricultural market systems through “Project Grow”, to enhance food security, create jobs and drive sustainable economic growth across the state.
Mr Johnson Ebokpo, Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, disclosed this during a news conference on the state’s agricultural transformation agenda on Tuesday in Calabar.
Ebokpo described Project Grow as a “major intervention” designed to promote enterprise development, improve market access, deepen financial inclusion and deliver long-term economic empowerment for farmers.
He said the administration of Gov. Bassey Otu viewed agriculture as a strategic sector with immense potential to generate wealth, attract investment and improve livelihoods.
According to him, the state’s vast agricultural potential has remained largely untapped due to weak market systems, inadequate financing, poor value-chain development and limited private sector participation.
“Our focus is on building a modern, commercially viable and investment-driven agricultural economy where farmers, agribusinesses and investors can thrive.”
The commissioner urged residents and investors to support the government’s efforts to build a resilient, competitive and prosperous agricultural economy that would benefit both present and future generations.
The Director of the project, Mr Dennis Ikpali, said the initiative operates across key agricultural value chains, including rice, maize, cassava, aquaculture, soybean and animal fodder.
Ikpali said the state had established an Agricultural Development Fund with guarantees of up to N30 billion to attract private investment into the sector.
He disclosed that the project had facilitated N3 billion in agricultural financing, while an additional N1.5 billion was earmarked for the 2026 farming season.
“The programme adopts a market systems approach by engaging farmers, processors, aggregators, input suppliers, mechanization operators and other service providers across the agricultural value chain,” he said.
According to him, the project has secured off-take agreements valued at about N18 billion for 2,000 metric tonnes of soybean and 20,000 metric tonnes of maize.
“Discussions are ongoing on cassava production and marketing.”
Ikpali further revealed that more than 28 agribusiness aggregators and over 20 service providers were supporting farmers under the programme, thereby improving access to quality inputs and reliable markets.
He said over 5,300 farmers had been trained in modern farming techniques, financial literacy and good agricultural practices with support from development partners.
The project director added that participating farmers cultivated 450 hectares of maize and soybean during the pilot phase and successfully supplied 114 metric tonnes of soybean to processors.
He noted that Project Grow had created 391 direct jobs and planned to scale up soybean and rice production through mechanized farming within 2026.
Ikpali called on investors and other stakeholders to partner with the government in expanding the programme and unlocking the full potential of Cross River’s agricultural sector. (NAN)
