Cross River to become major cocoa producing state

By Omotayo Edubi

The Special Adviser on Cocoa Development and Control to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River, Dr Oscar Ofuka, says the current upheaval in Cocoa sub-sector will put Cross River on the map as a top Cocoa producing state Nigeria.

He made this revelation on Tuesday in Calabar during the harvesting and raising of new Cocoa sprout at the premises of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC).

Ofuka said that the Cocoa revolution agenda of Gov. Ayade’s administration was spreading like wild fire across all corners and crannies of the state.

“A lot of people had this notion that Cocoa cannot grow well outside Etung and Ikom Local Government Areas.

“But with the current revolution we are moving Cocoa plantations to all the Local Government Areas.

“The CRBC Calabar Cocoa plantation was initiated two years ago.

“As you can see, this is the third time we are harvesting here, just to prove that Cocoa can grow very well in Calabar and, by extension, the Southern Senatorial district,” he said.

The Special Adviser added that the seedlings collected after the yield would be redistributed to Cocoa farmers across the seven Local Government Areas in the southern senatorial district for replanting.

“We want to spread Cocoa plantations across the three senatorial districts after which we shall know the zone that is more fertile for Cocoa production,” he said.

He commended the State Government for providing the enabling environment to Cocoa farmers for smooth cultivation.

Ofuka also said that the processing of Cocoa in the State would be made easier when the state’s Cocoa processing Plant in Ikom was completed.

Speaking, Mr Ani Essien, who represented the Chief of Staff to the givernor, urged people of Cross River to key into the Cocoa revolution aganda to make the state the largest Cocoa producing state in Nigeria.

According to him, the governor was very passionate about agriculture, and Cocoa in particular, knowing full well that that the state had arable land for Cocoa cultivation.

“I want to call on our people to key into the Cocoa revolution so that our state will be the leading Cocoa producing State in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Frank Odey, Director, News and Current Affairs CRBC, lauded the Special Adviser for his zeal and commitment towards achieving the government’s set goals.

According to him, as a Government establishment the organ will continue to key into Cocoa revolution agenda of the state government.