The Cross River State Government has hosted the South-South Regional Consultation on the National Food and Nutrition Crisis Preparedness Plan, aimed at strengthening preparedness, early warning and coordinated responses to food and nutrition crises.
The consultation, organised by the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and with strong support from the State Government was held in Calabar on Friday, October 23, 2026.
Declaring the consultation open, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthening food security, improving nutrition and protecting agricultural livelihoods under the People First Administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
Ebokpo highlighted the state’s Cowpea Development and Food Security Programme, which has established 12 community-led breeding centres and onboarded 1,800 households. He also cited a buy-back arrangement covering 75 per cent of harvested cowpea, the development of a 10-hectare soybean seed breeding farm at Nkarasi, Ikom Local Government Area, and the Homestead Farming Programme as interventions supporting food production, household nutrition and farmers’ livelihoods.
He noted that flooding, insecurity, rising food prices and disruptions to agricultural production and markets underscore the need for effective early warning systems and coordinated interventions to protect vulnerable communities.
The Commissioner described the proposed National Food Crisis Early Warning System, Intervention Tracker and regular advisory reports as important tools for identifying emerging risks, monitoring interventions and facilitating timely responses to food and nutrition emergencies.
He called for the peculiar circumstances of the South-South region, particularly seasonal flooding, environmental pressures and transportation difficulties, to be adequately reflected in the national framework.
Ebokpo also urged stakeholders across the three tiers of government, development partners and relevant institutions to strengthen collaboration, share reliable information and ensure that early warning translates into timely action at the community level.
He expressed the state government’s commitment to implementing initiatives that strengthen food systems, improve nutrition outcomes and safeguard livelihoods, while expressing hope that the consultation would produce actionable recommendations for improving crisis preparedness and response across the region and the country.
By Blessing Enagu
