Gov Otu allocates 100,000 hectares of land for cassava production

...encourages farmers on the need for mass production of cassava

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The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu has allocated 100,000 hectares of land for cassava production and other agricultural programmes in the state.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Crops and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo at the weekend during a Cassava Value Chain Stakeholders’ Workshop organised by the National Agriculture Growth Scheme and Agropocket (NAGS-AP) in Calabar, the state capital.

Ebokpo who represented the Governor at the event encouraged Cassava farmers on the need for mass production of cassava, adding that the benefits would exert on the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

He said a digital state-wide soil and fertility map exercise has been commissioned and is currently ongoing for all crops, adding that this will guarantee food security and improve financial dividends.

According to Ebokpo, “statistics show that in 2019, China exported more than 4 million tons of cassava and its related products, the United States and Japan exported about 1.5 million tons and Japan 1 million tons respectively. So, Nigeria as the business nerve centre of Africa with myriads of ideas can’t undermine the overwhelming benefits accrued from massive production of Cassava.”

The Commissioner further noted that it is imperative to create an enabling agricultural environment for cassava farmers to harness the abound and untapped agro-opportunities to achieve desired goals.

He assured that his Ministry shall make use of this comparative advantage and partner with stakeholders from different sectors who are ready and willing to invest in agro-businesses to ensure the development of a sustainable cassava production strategy for the State.

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