Farmers in Cross River State have received technical knowledge of how to boost the production of their farm yields, especially palm oil and cassava to enable them meet global demands.
Cross River State Committee on Export Promotion in collaboration with the state Ministry of Commerce organised a one-day sensitization forum on positioning Oil Palm and Cassava as major Export products of the state.
This drew academicians and other experts from the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NIFOR, Cassava Growers Association, CBN and others.
One of the cassava farmers, Mr Abang Peter who attended the event said, “I am satisfied and was really impacted throughout the session.
“I have gained a lot. I will now go back and Improve in my production. Now that I have discovered that cassava is one of the major export products in the country I will go back to improve on my output”.
Another participant, Ofem Oyong, an Oil Palm farmer said his eyes were opened to see the new, technical ways to boost the oil palm business.
He opined that he will improve and increase his yield for export. “I will go all out to ensure I improve and increase yield to meet International standards for export”.
Trade Promotion Advisor of NEPC, Damian Onirogbe disclosed that there were endless opportunities in exportable farm products, especially cassava and palm oil.
Dr O. Solomon of the Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research, NIFOR, said Criss River State is well endowed with palm oil plantations and has arable lands for the crop. He spoke about the “Increase Production and Productivity of the Oil Palm in Cross River for Export”.
Commissioner for Commerce in the state, Rosemary Archibong said, “Following the lull noticeable in the global oil market, the federal government is now focusing serious attention on farm crops as a source of revenue.
“In Cross River, we got to look inward, we got to leverage what God has naturally blessed us with. Everything around here makes cassava and oil palm beneficial to people.
“We organise this event to sensitise our people on how they can leverage this enormous opportunity to enable the state to improve productions for exports”, Archibong stressed.
Her words, “Cross River State is yet to leverage on the huge potentials and the demand of the two commodities of Cassava and Oil Palm in the global market”.
The Commissioner said Nigeria’s Cassava Production capacity is put at 45 million metric tons per annum, estimated at 18B Dollars.
She said, “Henceforth, as the potential for the product has been identified, the state is ready to partner with stakeholders to redouble her export capacity,” she said.
