BY Ekanem, Ekanem-Faith
Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources Ntufam Okon Owuna, has reiterated the Government’s commitment to partner with development partners to achieve the vision of the State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade on Agro-industrialization potentials.
The Commissioner made the commitment during a courtesy visit paid him by the team from Feed the Future Nigeria Agri Business Investment; a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) project.
The Agric Commissioner expressed delight at the visit by the USAID project team, noting that their visit and offer of partnership with the state government, through the Agriculture ministry in the different field of agriculture was at the center of the policy thrust of Governor Ayade-led administration.
“Cross River State Government is committed to Agro-industrialization which is indeed one of the comparative advantages the state can boost of among the comity of states.”
Ntufam Owuna added that the best thing that has happened in Cross River was the Government’s decision to focus on agriculture and development the natural endowments of the state and look away from dependent on the nation’s oil production economy.
He called on development partners such as USAID, World Bank and others working in the agricultural sector to partner with the State Ministry of Agriculture to see how to grow food not only to feed the citizens in the state and the country but to also feed the world.
In his address to the Commissioner, the Chief of Party, Feed the Future Nigeria Agri-Business Investment, Mr Adam Saffer explained that the Feed the Future project of USAID is focused to raise money and also establish a good working relationship with the ministry and make a difference in the state’s Agricultural sector.
He said their presence in the states is to help the ministry review its agricultural policy and also figure out ways to maximize the benefits of the Rice Mill and Rice Seedling factory in the state.
He further disclosed that the on the 27th of February, 2020 there will be ‘‘an agri-business investment summit’’ which will be held at the Calabar International Conference center.
Also speaking, the Senior Technical Advisor Agricultural Division, Dexsi Consulting Group, who was also in the team, said that their goal is to review the Agricultural policy and make it implementable.
In a similar development the Commissioner for Agriculture also received a team from Blossom Allied Input Limited who made a presentation, also seeking for partnership with the State government on the development of high productivity Oil Palm Seeds varieties and clones.
The delegation from Blossom Allied Input limited was led by their Chairman, Mr. Ejiofor Ezekwe accompanied by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Oil Palm Arch John Bassey.
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