Stakeholders Validate Draft Cassava Value Chain Development Policy

Stakeholders Validate Draft Cassava Value Chain Development Policy 

By Blessing Enagu

The Governor Bassey Edet Otu- led administration's vision of building a prosperous and vibrant Cross River State has continued to gather momentum with the recent validation of the draft Cross River State Cassava Value development Policy.

The present administration had identified cassava as a catalyst for positive change in the State and resolved to maximize its rich potential, thus making available 100, 000 hectares of land across the State for cassava cultivation, thereby facilitating the development of a framework to industrialize and commercialize cassava production in the State.

The formulation process started in October 2023 with a consultative forum and field stakeholders engagements culminating recently into a validation workshop organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, where critical stakeholders across the relevant Government Institutions,  Private Sector, Academia, Financial Institutions and Farmer Groups, endorsed the draft Cassava Value Chain Development Policy  in Cross River State.

Declaring the workshop open, Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo expressed joy that Governor Bassey Edet Otu's long-standing vision is being fulfilled. He noted that cassava is a food security crop that has transformational power to provide the required nutrition and livelihoods for the teeming population, adding that the new cassava policy will put more money in the pockets of farmers, create more jobs and boost the economy.

Commissioner Ebokpo informed that the validated Cassava Value Chain Development Policy will be sent to the State House of Assembly for proper legislation which will in turn provide a legal framework to guide investments in the cassava value chain.

Similarly, other Government actors in their goodwill messages, reiterated Governor Otu's committment in revolutionizing the Agricultural Sector. Notable were: the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Erasmus Ekpang; Commissioner for Commerce, Mrs. Abigail Duke; and the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Patrick Egbede. They all sued for more support in making the State a model of agricultural excellence.

Also speaking, the Member representing Boki 1 State Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Bette Obi pledged the support of the legislature in providing the legal backing for the policy.

The Chief Executive Officer of A.A.Universal, Barr. Chris Agara pledged to support Government  in actualizing a viable cassava economy in the State. High Chief Higgins Peters on his part, lauded the initiative and pledged to collaborate with his business associate, Chief Chris Agara to develop and sustain the production of cassava in Cross River State.

The Chairman of Cassava Growers Association in the State, Venerable Augustine Oqua advised that the policy should not only be approved on paper but fully implemented to the benefit of all Cross Riverians.

Earlier, the Team of Policy Consultants, Prof. Susan Ohen and Prof. Damian Agom made presentations on the draft policy document with focus on institutional roles, models for Public Private Partnership and sustainability model for funding.

Other stakeholders at the event were: The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Mr Ekpe Bassey; Former House of Assembly Member, Hon. Ugana Lukpata, Chairman, Cross River State Farmers Council, Mr. Oyama Owen; Chairman, Agro Value Chain Steering Committee, Chief Ndem Effiong; President, National Association of Women in Agriculture, Mrs. Ekaette Okon; among others.