10, 000 farmers to go into cotton production in Cross River

Special Adviser to the Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State on Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations, Mr. Emmanuel Anoh has said that about 10, 000 farmers are to go into cotton cultivation in the state. The cotton harvested in the farm would be used to feed the garment factory.

Anoh disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Calabar on Tuesday. He said apart from the 9,800 farmers who had already registered for takeoff of cotton production, 5000 are also being expected to register with the government via the Anchors borrows programme.

In that regard, state government has scheduled a meeting with intending 5000 farmers willing to go into cotton production in Ogoja Local Government of Cross River State for increased production of cotton.

As we speak, we have 9,800 farmers who have registered for cotton cultivation. The registration is done in different cooperatives because the participation in the anchor borrower’s programme is made based on the cooperatives. So, we have so many cooperatives registered with us”.

On Thursday at Ogoja, it is going to be a gathering of all the farmers, who are interested in cotton cultivation. We have people from the Central Bank of Nigeria and participating banks as well as people from the Agric Insurance Corporation and many other stakeholders would be at the meeting. All these people would be there to ensure that we have a successful cotton value chain programme in Cross River State.”

The Special Adviser maintained that State Government we are looking at 300 hectares this year. This number will increase next year. Of course, the target is to generate 300 hectares for cultivation of cotton for the year 2017 stressing that the number of hectares will skyrocket next year so that the garment factory will not lack it basic raw material.

We are expecting that before the end of the cultivation season, the needed raw materials to feed the garment factory, which is the pet project of the Ben Ayade administration designed to generate income for the state and for those involved in the process.”Anoh maintained.

On the specie of cotton that the state government is interested to acquire, the special Adviser said that government was only interested to acquire the improved variety of cotton to sustain the garment factory adding that to achieve the desired result on the production of good quality cotton, government is partnering with the Institute of Agricultural Research in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

He charged those responsible for modification of seeds to supply the farmers seeds for cultivation, “They are partners in this cultivation process; they will even be taking routine inspection of the farms to ensure that the farms do well. So, we expect that production is going to be very high,” he stressed.

Ayade’s aide stated that state government was so passionate about making sure that money enters the pockets of people in the rural areas. “His interest is basically to ensure that peoples livelihood in their homes is enhanced; that people can afford to have food on their table”

He explained that Cotton is a crop that is very important due to its huge economic benefit. Secondly cotton can grow very well in Cross River State especially in the northern part. So, after doing research, the Governor has introduced cotton as an economic crop to be cultivated in the northern part of Cross River State. It will extend to other areas in the State, but the first is to start it from the northern part of Cross River.