Governor Bassey Otu’s rural transformation agenda has received a boost as the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Mr. Johnson A. Ebokpo Jr., led the Chairman of the Cross River State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Bette Philip Obi, farmers’ associations and media representatives on an inspection tour of agricultural projects in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.
The tour assessed the impact of the Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project, alongside other state government interventions aimed at promoting food production, enterprise development, employment and improved rural livelihoods.
The delegation visited MAMI Farms at Ikot Nakanda, the LIFE-ND greenhouse project at Uruandung Community, a yam minisett multiplication farm at the Akpabuyo Local Government Council Secretariat and a five-hectare cowpea seed-breeding farm at Ikot Nakanda.
At MAMI Farms, the delegation witnessed the transformation of a former LIFE-ND beneficiary into an entrepreneur, employer and mentor. The farm’s General Manager, Miss Miriam Asuquo Okon, who participated in the project as an incubatee, has progressed into an incubator and is currently mentoring seven Batch 2 Additional Financing beneficiaries.
Her integrated agricultural enterprise comprises fish production, rabbitry, poultry and piggery. She currently maintains more than 3,000 table-size fish, five families of rabbits and Noiler poultry that have commenced laying, while the collaborative piggery component provides employment for a veterinarian and five attendants.
The State Project Coordinator of the IFAD-assisted LIFE-ND Project, Dr. Innocent M. Ogbin, said Okon’s progress demonstrated the sustainability and multiplier effect of the project’s incubation model, which combines orientation, practical training, mentorship and enterprise support to equip beneficiaries with the skills and resources to establish viable businesses.
Ogbin explained that the transition of beneficiaries from incubatees to enterprise owners and subsequently to incubators creates a sustainable cycle of job creation, income generation and knowledge transfer. Commissioner Ebokpo commended Governor Otu for creating an enabling environment for development partnerships such as LIFE-ND to thrive, noting that the state government remained committed to investments that create sustainable economic opportunities for rural communities.
At the LIFE-ND greenhouse project in Uruandung Community, the delegation inspected the production facilities and interacted with beneficiaries. Ogbin explained that the intervention was designed to promote vegetable production, improve nutrition and equip participants with practical production and enterprise management skills. Ebokpo urged the beneficiaries to approach agriculture as a viable business, paying attention to profitability and market opportunities, while expressing the government’s intention to expand such interventions into larger agricultural enterprises.
The delegation also inspected the yam minisett multiplication farm at the Akpabuyo Local Government Council Secretariat, Ikot Nakanda. The initiative is expected to improve access to quality planting materials, support increased yam production and strengthen the agricultural value chain, with potential benefits for productivity and food security in the area.
At a five-hectare cowpea seed-breeding farm facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development for women in agriculture, Ebokpo explained that the ministry had provided land development, foundation planting materials and other soil fertility and growth-enhancing inputs. The participating women are responsible for planting, maintaining and managing the farm.
The farm is projected to produce approximately 7.5 metric tonnes of cowpea, with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) expected to off-take the produce at a guaranteed market price. The produce will subsequently be revolved to other women over two years, creating opportunities for additional beneficiaries to participate in the scheme and progressively expand their cultivation.
Ebokpo urged the women to demonstrate commitment, ownership and diligence, stressing that the sustainability and expansion of the initiative would depend on their active participation. Obi commended the beneficiaries and assured them that their dedication would be communicated to Governor Otu, while the Chairman of the Cowpea Association, Pastor Nathaniel Nkor, and the Vice Chairman of the state chapter of AFAN emphasised collective ownership and effective farm management.
Obi also commended LIFE-ND for its contribution to agricultural development and rural livelihoods, citing Okon’s progression from an incubatee to an entrepreneur, employer and mentor as evidence of the value of investing in young people. He praised the state government’s agricultural development efforts and pledged to support relevant initiatives requiring legislative consideration and approval.
A highlight of the visit to MAMI Farms was the symbolic participation of Ebokpo and Obi in feeding fish at the facility. The inspection tour demonstrated the collaboration among the Cross River State Government, development partners, implementing institutions, private enterprises and farmers’ associations in advancing agricultural development.
The projects collectively demonstrate the potential of strategic agricultural investments to expand food production, create employment, empower women and young people, and improve household incomes. Through these interventions and development partnerships, Governor Otu’s rural transformation agenda is opening opportunities for sustainable agricultural enterprises and strengthening the foundation for inclusive economic development across Cross River State.
