By Felix Asuquo
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating wealth for farmers through agricultural transformation and the state’s Green Economy Revolution.
This is coming after several communal clashes had chased and affected farmers from their farm lands.
Otu, who spoke through his Deputy, Peter Odey, made the commitment at the 21st edition of the Leboku International New Yam Festival held at the Yakurr Peace Stadium, Ugep, with the theme, “Growing in Prosperity.”
The Deputy Governor said the theme aligned with the administration’s agricultural transformation programme, particularly its efforts to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and make agriculture a major driver of economic growth in the state.
He said the government had established smallholder cluster farms and was supporting farmers with revolving loans to expand production.
Odey added that the administration was also providing tractors, ploughing machines and other agricultural equipment to move farmers from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.
He said, “Our administration is committed to creating wealth for our farmers. Through mechanisation, access to finance and improved markets, we are positioning agriculture to become a major driver of economic growth in Cross River State.”
The Deputy Governor explained that the mechanisation programme would increase productivity, reduce the burden of manual farming and improve farmers’ incomes.
He further disclosed that the state government had unveiled a Public-Private Partnership investment package valued at N70bn and $1.075bn, noting that agriculture-related investments accounted for the largest share.
Odey urged traditional rulers, community leaders and residents of Yakurr to sustain peace and embrace dialogue in resolving disputes, stressing that stability was essential to attracting investment and driving economic development.
According to him, a peaceful Yakurr would be better positioned to attract investors, promote tourism and unlock opportunities in agriculture and the creative economy.
