A Cross River State delegation led by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, has arrived in Uganda for a knowledge tour aimed at strengthening the State’s emerging coffee value chain.
The visit forms part of Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s coffee development initiative, which includes farmer profiling, training and the ongoing distribution of subsidised Arabica and Robusta seedlings in Calabar and across the State’s Local Government Areas.The trip was facilitated by Johnvent Industries in collaboration with the Cross River State Government.
According to Commissioner Ebokpo, the delegation brings together government officials, legislators, technical officers, and representatives of women and young people to learn how Uganda supports coffee farmers and sustains its industry. The team will examine community infrastructure, processing, value addition, quality standards, traceability and market development.
He explained that the delegation was deliberately constituted to provide broad representation of stakeholders in Cross River’s coffee development efforts. It includes the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Bette Obi; Chairman, Cross River State Forestry Commission, Rt. Hon. George Oben-Etchi; Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Prof. John Shiyam; Special Adviser, Office of the Wife of the Governor, Dr. Inyang Asibong; the Chairman and Secretary of the Multi-Stakeholder Committee on Cocoa, Coffee and Oil Palm, Prof. Mrs Susanna Ohen and Ntufam Ekpe Bassey; the Director of Coffee and Coffee Desk Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Mr. Omini Eyong and Mrs Joy Ugbong; representatives of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter, Elizabeth Idiku and the National Association of Nigerian Students, Emmanuel Iwara
Ebokpo also acknowledged the Wife of the Governor, Bishop Dr. Mrs. Eyoanwan Bassey Edet Otu, for mobilising women to participate in the State’s coffee initiative, noting that the involvement of women and young people is important to building an inclusive and sustainable coffee sector.
He said the tour would also provide the delegation with insights into the institutional arrangements, partnerships and systems supporting Uganda’s coffee industry, particularly in farmer support, youth entrepreneurship, processing, value addition, quality assurance and market access.
Lessons from the tour are expected to inform practical recommendations for implementing and further strengthening Cross River State’s coffee development programme.
By Blessing Enagu
