BY KINGSLEY AGIM
A team of Consultants from the UN-REDD, providing support to the Government of Cross River State on taking action on Climate Change has expressed delight and satisfaction with the job Governor Ben Ayade is doing in agriculture and the commodities supply value chains in the State.
The Team Lead, Mr. Phil Cowling made this known to newsmen, Monday, 9 July, 2018, during a tour of the Automated Rice Seeds and Seedlings Multiplication Factory and other facilities in the Ayade Industrial Park.
"I and the team have been very fortunate to be provided with an excellent insight into the work the Governor of Cross River State is doing on developing sustainable agricultural commodities supply value chains which are crucial to reducing the impact of agriculture on forest," Mr. Cowling explains.
"We have been impressed with the work Governor Ayade has conducted on developing modern technologies and modern supply chains for key agricultural commodities as a means of poverty alleviation and addressing environmental issues," Cowling concluded.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. (Mrs.) Alice Ekwu said the UN-REDD team is in the State for an on-ground assessment of what the State Government has been done in four years of the readiness phase, now transiting to the investment phase, adding that they have come to see the challenges and further inputs that can be made in contribution to the concept note of the UN-REDD that will aid the transition into the investment phase.
Dr. Ekwu also emphasized on the importance of the team's visit to the trailblazing efforts of Governor Ayade in industrialization and agricultural revolution in the State, adding that the solar-powered Industrial Park is testament to the fight against green gas emission and puts Governor Ayade as a leading light and pace setter in Climate Change.
According to Climate Change and Forestry Commissioner, "the Rice Seeds and Seedling Multiplication Factory is giving employment to so many people and that impacts on us in the climate change and environment sector, which means people are getting income and do not need to enter the forest and continue to put pressure on the deforestation that we are fighting against."
Dr. Ekwu also told newsmen that the team was in Ikom at the weekend to see the Ultra-modern Cocoa Processing Factory that is aimed at boosting the cocoa value chain, in continuation of her Ministry's advocacy for deforestation-free commodities production with cocoa and oil palm as the main crops.
The team was conducted round the Rice City by the Project Engineer, Patrick O'Brien, with detailed explanation on the rice seed and seedling multiplication technology, also informing that some of the already produced seedlings are to be transplanted at rice farm sites in Ogoja within the week.
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