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Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade has reiterated his
committment to disentangle the state from over dependence on oil-induced
federal allocation by investing heavily on agriculture as alternative to
oil.The governor spoke at the weekend when he led a team of South African
farm experts on irrigation, agronomy, hydro and solar electricity to Ochong
in Obubra Local Government Area of the state on a site inspection for the
establishment of a feed mill and soya bean farm.
Decked in a brown combat short, camouflage polo and bowla hat to underscore
the importance of the inspection, Ayade who also had the Ambassador for
Food Security in Africa, Dr Brylyne Chitsunge, on his entourage, said his
administration intends to establish a yellow maize farm which will be the
biggest in Africa.
“We are putting a yellow maize farm alongside Soya bean farm for a feed
mill. We made a choice of this land as an administration as we are setting
up a poultry farm to increase the protein intake of Nigerians and to focus
on agriculture as an alternative to oil,” the governor disclosed.
According to him, “this will deal with issues of food security considering
the increasing population of Africa, for if we do not do something about
agriculture and our protein intake, definitely, the younger generation
coming will be in trouble.”
Governor Ayade explained that Cross River was ready to go into full
agriculture industrialization as the only way to guarantee prosperity, put
food on the table for all as well as keep the young men and women busy.
The governor who reiterated his call on Cross Riverians to take to farming
as the most sustainable way wealth creation, said “in today’s modern world,
farming has gone digital, so the technology that is going to be deployed is
such that you are not going to be toiling, you are going to use your brain,
press some equipment and get the best of harvest.”
On the choice of the land, he said: “It looks very promising and very
hopeful. It was selected based on history and preliminary data,” adding
that, “I am sure by the time the experts are done, they will give a final
opinion, but it looks very good.”
Chitsunge, on her part lauded the governor for taking agriculture to a
higher pedestal, assuring that her office will support the state’s
initiative while ensuring that “anything you do in Cross River will be
replicated in the entire nation and indeed Africa.”
The Ambassador who stressed the need to add value to farming as the clothes
and food people wear and eat would not have been possible without
agriculture, urged youths to “come on board and take ownership of food
security as well as build their economy.”
Dale Van Den of Aardway Chansbury Farm in South Africa who was also on the
inspection team expressed joy at visit to Cross River and promised a
robust partnership, saying “together we are going to strive for the best.
We have the expertise, so as we go forward, we will do the soil analysis,
investigate and check the climate as well as other possibilities involved
for massive production in this land.”
Others, including an irrigation expert, Luan Marais of Senter 360, South
Africa and Electrical Engineer , Koos Mostery, assured that they will carry
out proper planning and approved soil analysis to boost food security in
the state, nation and Africa at large, pointing out that, “the gesture by
the governor will create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.”
Earlier in his remarks, Head of Local Government Administration for
Obubra, Chief Barry Alamo Inyang, lauded Ayade for the decision to site a
maize farm and feed mill in the area, a development, which he says will
assuage the people who have been neglected by past administrations in the
state.