The Cross River State Commissioner of Agriculture, Bar. Johnson Ebokpo has flagged off the first phase of the distribution of Malaysian Super- G sprouted Oil palm Nuts to farmers in the state.
The Commissioner who performed the ceremony at the ministry's headquarters along barracks road Calabar, disclosed that prior to the distribution, the ministry had completed a state - wide enumeration exercise to profile farmers as well as ensure fair distribution of the sprouted nuts in the state pointing out that the 3.5m sprouted Oil palm Nuts is government deliberate strategy to cover up the twenty-three hectares of land where Oil palm refused to thrive.
He explained further, "Currently, the state is cultivating ninety -three thousand hectares of land for oil palm, twenty -four hectares have oil palm trees that are between the ages of zero - five years, twenty-three thousand hectares with wild palms, while others have very old oil palm trees.Hence, the Cross River Oil Palm development initiative to close the gap.
The decision to bring the improved variety of oil palm Nuts is to replace the aged old less productive species prevalent in the state for increased yield. Today, a barrel of oil is more expensive than a barrel of crude oil. The palm oil sebtor big contributes heavily to the nation's GDP. We want to utilise the advantage offered by the oil palm sector to transform the lives of our people."Ebokpo assured.
The Commissioner announced that government magnanimously purchased seventy - seven Motor bikes to local government Agric extension officers to not only empower them to work but also to ensure the success of the programme by assisting the farmers in raising the nurseries of the nuts.
In their Good will messages, Commissioner of Live Stock, Aquaculture and Fishies Development, Ntufam Anom, that of Sports, Hon. Agnes Atsu and the Permanent Secretary ministry of Agriculture, Mr Ekpe Bassey noted the pragmatic approach of the state Governor, Prince Bassey Edet Otu in moving the state in all segments barely two years of his administration adding that the provision of the highly subsidised three point five million oil palm nuts is a revenue booster for farmers from the next four upward.
Speaking, Chairman Akpabuyo local government area, Hon. Effiong Bassey, on behalf of Council Chairmen in the Southern Senatorial district pledged his colleagues readiness to support the state government policies and programmes, saying, "Ours is to ensure that the Sweetness of Our Sweet Prince gets to the rural populace. We will ensure effective distribution of the oil palm nuts."
Project Manager, Gem 7, FAO - Follow IP, Mr Cletus Ogbedi on behalf of Development Partners and Stakeholders in the Agric sector said for over a decade Farmers in the state have never had it so good with such laudable government initiatives as well as the distribution of motor cycles to extension workers.
"FAO IP - Nigeria project is committed to giving out free Agro forest fruit trees free to as many farmers that pick up their subsidized oil palm nuts they get free forest seedlings which includes, Avocado, Ogbono, Ikom pear, Sawyer Chop among others.These are trees that provide income during the slack season of the oil palm.
"It is too good to be true that this is happening in Cross River." Ogbedi stated.
Spokesman for the benefiting farmers, a one time Permanent Secretary in the state, Chief Owali Ilem, recalled that since the inception of the present administration, government has provided a level playing ground for farmers to boost their yield.
The second phase of the distribution exercise will come up next month to be followed also immediately by the third phase.
Hannah Arikpo, Beagle News
