The 14th Steering Committee Meeting of the South-South Agro-Ecological Zone’s Research, Extension, Farmer, Input, Linkage System (REFILS) opened on Tuesday, July 16, in Calabar, with a renewed call for strengthened collaboration across the agricultural value chain to address food insecurity and drive innovation.
The two-day event, which brings together stakeholders from research institutions, universities, agricultural input agencies, development partners, and farmer organizations, is being hosted in Cross River State for the first time in over a decade.
Declaring the meeting open, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Mr. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, welcomed delegates and lauded Governor Bassey Edet Otu for providing the enabling support to host the high-level gathering. He said the state’s hosting of the REFILS meeting reflects its growing commitment to agricultural transformation under the Governor’s “People First” agenda.
Describing the theme of the meeting—“Strengthening Stakeholder Linkages for Improved Food Security”—as timely, the Commissioner emphasized the urgent need to bridge gaps between research, extension, policy, and farmers. “Food security cannot be achieved in isolation. It demands a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach that transforms research findings into actionable solutions on the ground,” Ebokpo said.
He highlighted key interventions recently undertaken in Cross River, including the distribution of 3.5 million improved oil palm nuts from the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), the ongoing planting of one million Arabica and Robusta coffee seedlings toward a 30-million target, cassava stem multiplication under the Cassava Value Chain Project, and the deployment of 77 motorbikes to support agricultural extension services.
“These initiatives are designed to empower farmers with quality inputs, research-backed innovations, and real-time extension support to increase productivity and drive economic growth,” he noted.
Mr. Ebokpo called on participants to use the forum to strengthen collaboration, data sharing, and policy coordination, stressing that even the most impactful innovations remain ineffective without strong linkages across the system. He expressed optimism that the outcomes of the meeting would help unlock the full agricultural potential of the South-South region.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Forestry, Hon. Bette Obi, reaffirmed the commitment of the Cross River State House of Assembly to fast-track legislation supporting agricultural development. He cited the prompt passage of the Project Grow bill—enabling the establishment of state-backed farms across several local government areas—as a key example of legislative support.
Hon. Obi praised Governor Otu for his consistent approval of agricultural initiatives and pledged to table a motion for urgent intervention in the rehabilitation of the state’s Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) office, currently in a dilapidated state.
On his part, the South-South Zonal REFILS Coordinator and Director at NIFOR, Dr. Olusegun Solomon, provided insight into the REFILS mechanism, explaining that it is designed to link researchers, extension agents, farmers, and input suppliers in a functional, collaborative system. He noted that the South-South zone—rich in rainfall and sunshine—has vast untapped potential, including the possibility of cultivating wheat in traditionally non-wheat-producing areas like Cross River.
However, Dr. Solomon lamented the limited funding and weak support for state ADPs, which he said hampers effective participation in REFILS activities and undermines agricultural progress. He urged governments at all levels to prioritize REFILS, noting that effective collaboration across the research–farmer–input chain is critical for achieving national food security goals.
Earlier, the Programme Manager of the Cross River ADP, Mr. Emogor Bassey, reiterated the importance of regional collaboration to revitalize agriculture in the South-South. He commended Governor Otu and Commissioner Ebokpo for their sustained support in repositioning the ADP and improving field-level engagement with farmers.
The meeting has drawn agricultural experts, policymakers, academics, and farmers, all focused on developing actionable strategies to enhance food production, build resilience, and drive sustainable development in the region.
Organized by the Cross River State ADP and Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development in partnership with the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), the forum is expected to produce recommendations that will shape the agricultural outlook of the South-South zone and influence national discourse on food security.
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