Cowpea, Cassava, Yam, Rice: Cross River Drives Crop Production, Agribusiness Growth

Share on WhatsApp Share via Email Agricultural interventions across Cross River State are expanding opportunities for improved crop production, livelihood diversification and agribusiness development, with beneficiaries adopting improved farming technologies and establishing enterprises to strengthen household incomes.

The ongoing assessment of the interventions covered cowpea breeding stations, yam minisett multiplication farms, rice production and processing facilities, cassava production clusters and soybean farms across several local government areas, providing insights into the utilisation, impact and sustainability of the investments.

At Mbok in Ekajuk Clan, the assessment team inspected a flourishing one-hectare cowpea breeding station with an estimated population of 6,000 plants. A beneficiary, Mrs Charity Egbede, said the facility had exposed women in the community to improved agricultural practices and crop diversification opportunities, enabling them to explore additional sources of livelihood.

The team also visited a privately owned yam minisett multiplication farm established by Mr Nkor following the training of 450 participants. The farm demonstrated the practical application of improved yam multiplication technology, which is expected to increase the availability of quality planting materials and boost yam production in subsequent farming seasons.

At Emmankpa, also in Ekajuk Clan, another one-hectare cowpea breeding station was assessed. Mrs Rita Egede commended the Cross River State Government for providing women with practical knowledge and skills in cowpea production, noting that the training had encouraged them to diversify their livelihood activities.

Similarly, at the Bansara cowpea breeding station, the Director of Agricultural Services, Pastor Ubana Ubi, expressed optimism about the prospects of the intervention and indicated plans to support the registration of the participating group as a women-in-agriculture association. The women leader, Mrs Immaculata Edame, also appreciated the state government and the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson A. Ebokpo Jr., for creating opportunities for women to participate in the programme.

The State Chairman of the Cowpea Association, Pastor Nathaniel Nkor, said the breeding initiative was laying the foundation for positioning cowpea as a major export-oriented crop in Cross River State.

In Ogoja Local Government Area, the team inspected a rice processing mill at Mbenkpen equipped with machinery for milling, polishing, destoning, steaming and other processing operations. The facility is designed to improve processing efficiency and enhance the value of locally produced rice.

The team also visited rice fields cultivated by incubatees, where beneficiaries demonstrated the application of improved farming practices. Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries and the community, the incubator, Mr Lawrence Agbor, and an incubatee, Mr Andrew Modey, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the IFAD-assisted Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project and the Cross River State Government for their support.

They explained that the interventions had enabled beneficiaries to diversify their livelihoods, develop multiple income streams and strengthen their business management skills, including record keeping and other practices necessary for sustainable enterprise development.

The assessment subsequently covered the Okpoma cowpea breeding station before the team proceeded to the 32-hectare cassava production cluster at Ijegu in Yala Local Government Area. According to the incubator, Mr Egah, the farm was developed and planted with the TME 419 cassava variety for 32 incubatees under the IFAD-assisted LIFE-ND Project.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Odey Blessing Ogeyi, a widow and mother of three, expressed excitement over the opportunity, saying the intervention offered renewed prospects for improving her household income and livelihood. Speaking on behalf of the 32 beneficiaries, she described herself as the happiest person because of the opportunities the project had created for her family.

Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, the State Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Dr Innocent M. Ogbin, explained that the cassava cluster was designed to provide beneficiaries with an organised and commercially viable production platform. He said the arrangement would facilitate technical support, promote improved farming practices and strengthen access to agricultural inputs and other essential services.

Ogbin stressed that the intervention went beyond cultivation to establishing a complete cassava value chain through the integration of production, processing and marketing. He explained that the complementary processing mill at Ijegu would provide an avenue for converting harvested cassava tubers into value-added products, reducing post-harvest losses and improving the commercial returns available to beneficiaries.

He added that once the processing equipment was installed and the facility became fully operational, the farm and mill would function as complementary components of an integrated agribusiness enterprise, with the cluster supplying raw materials for processing and the mill creating additional opportunities for income generation and employment.

The team also inspected the cassava processing facility at Ijegu, which is awaiting the installation of its processing machines before commencing full-scale operations. The facility is expected to strengthen the commercial prospects of the production cluster by providing a ready outlet for value addition and supporting the participation of beneficiaries and other farmers in the cassava value chain.

The assessment further covered interventions under Project Grow and direct programmes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, including cowpea breeding stations and soybean production activities in Obudu and Obanliku local government areas.

The projects collectively demonstrate opportunities for improving agricultural productivity, expanding rural enterprise development and strengthening the participation of women and other beneficiaries in commercial farming. The continuing assessment is expected to provide further insight into the adoption of improved technologies, the utilisation of facilities and the sustainability of agricultural investments across Cross River State.