Stakeholders in the oil palm value chain have reaffirmed their commitment to the successful implementation of the Cross River Oil Palm Development Initiative (CRODI) as they met at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Calabar, to review the programme’s first-phase activities and chart the way forward.
The meeting, which was the fifth since the initiative was launched, had in attendance key actors in the oil palm sector, including the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, his management team, the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Prof. John Shiyam, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Tree Crops, Mr. Fidelis Effa, the State Chairman of the Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN), Rev. Ojikpong Nyiam Bisong, representative of the State Chairman, National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), Mr. Cliff Oyira, the State Programme Coordinator of FAO FOLUR-IP, Mr. Cletus Ogbidi and the Programme Manager of Solidaridad, Mr. Kene Onukwube, among others.
The Cross River Oil Palm Development Initiative (CRODI) was established under the visionary leadership of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, with the goal of expanding the state’s oil palm sector and transforming it into a major source of wealth creation. The initiative has so far resulted in the procurement of 3.5 million improved sprouted oil palm nuts from the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) for distribution to farmers across the state.
Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Mr. Johnson Ebokpo, commended Governor Otu for his foresight and people-oriented agricultural transformation agenda. He also appreciated the collaboration of stakeholders who have supported the initiative from inception, noting that the session provided an opportunity to review performance, share lessons learned, and close identified gaps in implementation.
Presenting the status report, the Director of Agricultural Services, Mr. Ubi Ubana, revealed that 825,000 sprouted nuts have so far been received in batches from NIFOR, with 710,466 already distributed to farmers across the state. He explained that many of the seedlings are doing well at various stages of nursery development, while others have been transplanted to farms.
After extensive deliberations, stakeholders issued a communiqué at the end of the meeting held on October 31, 2025, highlighting key resolutions. They agreed that the current status of the oil palm nuts distributed to farmers be made public, and that agricultural extension services within the programme be strengthened. They further emphasized the need to enhance capacity building for smallholder oil palm farmers and ensure regular field monitoring by the CRODI technical team.
The communiqué also recommended the establishment of oil palm nurseries in each local government council of the state under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model. The model, they agreed, should operate on a commercial cost and production-sharing basis between the Cross River State Government, the 18 Local Government Areas, and private investors. It was further agreed that OPGAN, NPPAN, state and local government extension officers will provide supervisory support in each nursery location.
The Stakeholders concluded by expressing appreciation to Governor Otu for his creative leadership and commitment to lifting Cross River State from poverty to a state of shared prosperity through sustainable agricultural development.
Blessing Enagu
