Cross River Targets Cowpea Exports, Expands Soybean Production

Share on WhatsApp Share via Email The Cross River State Government has intensified efforts to position cowpea as a major export crop while expanding soybean production to create jobs, boost farmers’ incomes and strengthen food security across the state.

The development emerged during an oversight tour of selected agricultural intervention sites by the State Project Steering Committee, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development and led by the Commissioner, Hon. Johnson A. Ebokpo Jr.

The team inspected cowpea breeding and production sites, soybean farms and agricultural input facilities in Odukpani and Biase Local Government Areas to assess implementation, engage beneficiaries and identify challenges affecting productivity.

Speaking through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Odey J. Ikongha, at the cowpea breeding site in Efedem Community, Odukpani, the Commissioner said the state government was laying the foundation for cowpea to become one of Cross River’s major export crops.

He explained that cowpea had significant economic and nutritional value, noting that its availability in the market and rich amino acid content made it an important plant-based protein source. He added that its by-products could serve as valuable ingredients for animal feed production, creating additional business opportunities along the agricultural value chain.

At the Efedem aggregation centre, the committee inspected a storage facility established under Project Grow and assessed the agricultural inputs available to support farmers. The facility houses improved seeds, fertilisers, including NPK 20:10:10, selective herbicides and manual knapsack sprayers.

The Permanent Secretary commended the farmers and workers for their commitment to the intervention and encouraged them to sustain their efforts to improve productivity and achieve the project’s objectives.

The team also inspected a 91-hectare soybean farm, where the crop is expected to mature within approximately three months. With an estimated yield of two metric tonnes per hectare, the farm has the potential to produce about 182 metric tonnes of soybean at harvest.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the youth leader, Mr. Joseph Edet Ndifreke, described the soybean project as the first of its kind in the area, noting that it was already creating employment opportunities and stimulating economic activities among participating farmers and surrounding communities.

He, however, identified inadequate water supply and the absence of a suitable camp house as challenges confronting farmers at the site, appealing for government support to address the constraints and improve production.

The project’s aggregator, Dr. Anyim Ntui, explained that mechanised methods had been adopted for land preparation and crop establishment. He said his responsibility was to aggregate farmers’ produce and facilitate its movement to the market, adding that the projected output offered considerable income-generating opportunities for participating farmers.

A highlight of the inspection was the post-emergence application of herbicides to control weeds and promote crop development.

At the cowpea development site in Efedem, the committee assessed breeding and production activities, where five hectares had already been cultivated. With an estimated yield of 1.5 metric tonnes per hectare, the farm is projected to produce 7.5 metric tonnes of cowpea.

Based on an estimated market price of ₦650,000 per metric tonne, the expected harvest could generate approximately ₦4.875 million in gross revenue. The women leader in the community expressed appreciation to the state government for providing women with opportunities to participate in commercial agriculture and improve their livelihoods.

Earlier, the Director of Agricultural Services, Pst. Ubana Ubi, disclosed that the Ministry would purchase the cowpea produce at a guaranteed market price, providing farmers with an assured market for their harvest. He said the intervention was being facilitated by the Nigeria Cowpea Association, Cross River State Branch, to strengthen production, improve farmers’ incomes and develop a sustainable commodity value chain.

The committee subsequently visited Big Iwuru and Obot Unen in Biase Local Government Area to inspect a four-hectare cowpea breeding site and three hectares of soybean farmland. The team assessed the level of implementation and interacted with farmers and other stakeholders involved in the projects.

Following the inspections, the committee expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded at the intervention sites, while the engagement provided an opportunity to assess field activities, identify production constraints and obtain direct feedback from farmers, aggregators and other beneficiaries.

The interventions are expected to contribute to employment generation, food and animal feed security, increased household incomes and the development of commercially viable agricultural value chains in Cross River State. Beneficiaries in Odukpani and Biase also expressed appreciation for the support, describing the projects as opportunities to improve livelihoods, expand agricultural participation and create sustainable economic activities within their communities.