Cocoa Farmers Applaud Distribution of Free Seedlings in Cross River  

Cocoa farmers in Cross River State have applauded the free distribution of one hundred thousand improved variety seedlings to encourage young people to embrace farming.

The farmers, who were at the flag off ceremony held in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria for the distribution of the seedlings, said that receiving free seedlings from the nursery would enable them utilize their funds to purchase other inputs.

The cocoa seedlings were grown in the Cross River State Government owned nursery in Calabar to encourage new and young farmers from the southern senatorial district to establish farms across the seven local government areas.

Economic repositioning

One of the farmers present at the event, Mr. Akpanke William said “it is a privilege for me to be part of this. We never expected that we will get cocoa seedlings free like this in Cross River. The governor, Professor Ben Ayade has created an opportunity for people like us to grow in farming.”

Another farmer, Mr. Maxwell Ebam said, “I have a farm in the central district, but I am one of those trying to propagate the growing of cocoa in the south. Today I am enlightened on the fertile nature of the soil in the south. The ground is ready for cocoa production. 

“For those of us from Ikom, Etung and Boki in the central, cocoa is the main stay of our economy. Young people here in the south should see cocoa as a wealth creator. Everything we have in Ikom is from the proceeds of cocoa and with cocoa here it is enough to put us into greater economic height,” he stated.

Green millionaires

A representative of the Cross River State deputy governor, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Asuquo Ekpenyong spoke of the importance of cocoa as a cash crop with the propensity to transform economies of young farmers.

Ekpenyong, who is the All Progressives Congress, APC southern senatorial district candidate, noted that the cocoa processes mill built by Governor Ayade led administration was to serve farmers across the state and encouraged the people of the southern senatorial district embark on cocoa cultivation noting, “it is the mainstay of most African nations.”

He stated, “Cocoa has been known in decades past to grow mostly in the central senatorial district. We are here in Calabar in the heart of the southern senatorial district and we are seeing genetically enhanced cocoa growing here and have been cultivated with a shot span of just 18 months.

“What we have been able to demonstrate here is to show that we are able to get the seedlings into the hands of young and strong workforce; give them land, we can develop a lot of cocoa farmers, who will end up becoming green millionaires,” said Ekpenyong.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Cocoa Development and Control in the State, Dr. Oscar Ofuka noted that contrary to previous notion that cocoa cannot be grown in the south district, the seedlings in the nursery has yielded better than even the ones planted in the central.

Ofuka speaking to the farmers said, “to benefit from the free improved variety seedlings, you must be an owner of farm land. Our intention is to take young people out of the streets. Cocoa has been a monopoly of people living in the central senatorial district before this time. 

“We have 100,000 seedlings to distribute and we shall be distributing free of charge to the people in the southern senatorial district and of course, the idea is to ensure that we create green millionaires,” Ofuka stated.

A traditional ruler, the Muri Munene of Efut, Maurice Okon Eyo the First, was full of praises for the governor, who through his Special Adviser has demonstrated that cocoa could be grown in the southern senatorial district.

Highlight of the ceremony was the distribution of the seedlings to farmers present at the cocoa demonstration farm.

Confidence Okwuchi