The Cross River State Government is set to re-align its economic recovery strategy around agriculture, while strengthening information outreach to ensure that citizens have access to emerging opportunities in the sector.
The Commissioner for Information, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, stated this when he received the Chairman of the Cross River State Agricultural and Loan Board, Mr Tony Ikpeme, in his office in Calabar.
Pastor Cobham said Governor Senator Prince Bassey Otu was determined to restore Cross River’s position as a major agricultural hub, noting that a revitalised agricultural sector would boost the local economy and help transition the state from “a disconnected economic system to a cohesive system for economic recovery.”
The Commissioner commended the Governor for establishing the Agricultural and Loan Board, describing it as an important intervention capable of empowering Cross Riverians, particularly indigenous entrepreneurs and farmers, to become stronger participants in the international and export market.
He observed that Cross Riverians had yet to fully maximise opportunities in the international and export sectors, largely due to challenges associated with access to credit facilities, expressing optimism that the Board’s interventions would help bridge the financing gap and change the narrative.
Pastor Cobham pledged the Ministry’s commitment to providing the necessary communication support to publicise the innovative opportunities available through the Board and ensure that information reaches the people who need it most.
He added that effective utilisation of such opportunities would contribute to building “a functional economy that is not dependent on Federal Allocation (FAAC),” while strengthening the productive capacity of citizens and the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Cross River State Agricultural and Loan Board, Mr Tony Ikpeme, said the Board was established to improve livelihoods through agricultural transformation and create an enabling environment for farmers and agribusinesses to thrive.
Ikpeme said the Board’s vision was to develop an agricultural hub capable of enhancing food security, promoting price stability and expanding Cross River’s export capacity, while addressing financing challenges confronting both small- and large-scale farmers.
He called for a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Information to disseminate information on the Board’s agricultural roadmaps, grants, loans and other opportunities to farmers and prospective beneficiaries across the state.
The Chairman further disclosed that the Board was promoting the Cross River State Farmers Data Management System to digitalise farmers’ registration, stressing that registration on the platform had become mandatory for individuals seeking access to agricultural grants, loans or guarantees.
According to him, the system would provide accurate data on land hectarage, crop types and GPS locations, thereby improving planning, monitoring and efficiency in the agricultural sector, while requesting the Ministry’s support in helping citizens navigate the digital platform through sustained public information and awareness campaigns.
By Jeno Richard Odu
