Cross River targets 500 metric tonnes of Cocoa annually

The Cross River State Government says it is targeting the production of 500 metric tonnes of Cocoa annually.

State Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Anthony Eneji, who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Calabar, said quite a lot of incentives had been put in place to increase Cocoa production capacity as well as the cultivation of rice and other agricultural products in commercial quantities.

He said with the rich climatic condition and fertile land in Cross River, anyone who ventures into farming will have bumper harvests.

The commissioner explained how the state government, in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), had designed an agricultural scheme tagged ‘Anchor Borrowers’ Programme’, to support both existing and prospective rice farmers in the state.

“We realized that the state is naturally endowed with land, climate and with the people to push agriculture forward. This is a state with a land mass of nearly 2million hectares, and if you look at it all, 60 per cent of our population of about 3.5million are farmers, but they just do it as a way of life; they don’t do it as business or profit orientated venture.

“But, I think our people should change their mindset and consider farming as a business.

“This is a statement meant to engender and encourage all appointees, including journalists to venture into rice production. The incentives are there now to grow rice. All it takes is for you to come together as a cooperative of not less than 10 members and approach the ministry of agricultural.

“As regard the 500 metric tonnes cocoa production target, there is no harm in dreaming. We are quite capable of meeting these goals if we put our acts together. We are working together with all our stakeholders,”he said.