Two international agro-investors have expressed interest in the possibility of cultivating bamboo and potatoes on a commercial scale for export in Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
The French investors, Yann Fortunato represents Industriel Sylviculteur, while the second and Estelle Mougeot is the President, Links-4-Value.
Fortunato, during a presentation at the Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, Calabar told Governor Ben Ayade that their interest in Cross River was due to the availability of bamboos across the state.
He said, “the temperate climate of the Obudu Cattle Ranch is perfect for commercial cultivation of potatoes. Collaboration between the Cross River State Government and France will develop the value chain for Irish potatoes and bamboo and lead to the establishment of a seed cultivation and multiplication factory to improve output for export.”
Also speaking, Mougeot said bamboo or ‘green steel’ was capable of boosting the Cross River economy like that of Southern France, which was bamboo-driven.
In his response to the foreign investors, Governor Ben Ayade expressed the desire to partner on agroforestry and commercial potatoes cultivation.
Ayade stated that planting more bamboo was another way to protect forest reserve and tackle deforestation.
“Agroforestry is the way to go if we must safeguard our forest reserve. It is the answer to the massive deforestation of our forests. Cross River boasts of 58 percent of Nigeria’s forest reserve and with the fast regenerative nature of bamboo, deforestation will be reduced,” he said.
In other to retain the interest of the investors, the governor directed the Cross River Commissioners for Lands and Agriculture to work with the investors to actualise the bamboo and potatoes cultivation projects.
