4th from right, Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, 5th from right: Comrade Archibong Bassey, NUJ Chairman, CRS, Council, and members of the Ministry
By Ita Williams, Calabar
The Cross River State Government has intensified efforts to repositioning the agricultural sector through innovative strategies aimed at attracting investment, boosting food production, and expanding agribusiness opportunities across the state.
The government made this known recently during a press briefing on the progress of Project GROW since its inception in 2023.
The briefing provided an overview of the achievements recorded under the initiative and outlined plans for further growth in the sector.
The event was held at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre in Calabar, where officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development highlighted key milestones achieved through the implementation of Project GROW.
Speaking during the briefing, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, said the administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu remains committed to building an investment-driven agricultural economy capable of creating jobs and increasing food production.
According to Ebokpo, the government’s agricultural agenda is focused on transforming farming from a subsistence activity into a profitable business venture that attracts both local and foreign investors.
“We are changing the narrative from mere agricultural development to commercial opportunity. Our focus is on creating value across production, processing, marketing, distribution, and export,” the commissioner stated.
He explained that the state government is creating an enabling environment that supports commercial agriculture, encourages private-sector participation, and promotes sustainable value chain development across various agricultural commodities.
Ebokpo noted that strategic partnerships and policy reforms introduced by the government are designed to improve productivity, strengthen market access, and enhance the competitiveness of agricultural products from the state.
Also speaking, the Project Director of Project GROW, Mr. Denis Ikpali, disclosed that the programme currently operates across several agricultural value chains, including rice, maize, cassava, soybean, aquaculture, cowpea, wheat, sorghum, and groundnut production.
Ikpali revealed that more than 5,300 farmers have benefited from various capacity-building programmes aimed at improving productivity, adopting modern farming techniques, and reducing post-harvest losses.
He further stated that the project facilitated the cultivation of approximately 450 hectares of maize and soybean farms during the 2025 farming season, contributing significantly to increased agricultural output in the state.
Highlighting one of the programme’s major achievements, Ikpali said Project GROW successfully executed an off-take agreement for the supply of 2,000 metric tonnes of soybean and 20,000 metric tonnes of maize, with the transaction valued at about N18 billion.
“This agreement demonstrates the confidence investors and agribusiness operators have in the potential of Cross River’s agricultural sector. It also provides a guaranteed market for participating farmers,” Ikpali said.
He added that the initiative has facilitated more than N3 billion in agricultural financing and is expected to unlock additional investments through its credit guarantee framework, further positioning Project GROW as a major driver of agricultural transformation and economic development in Cross River State.
