Agric remains most stable revenue earner in Nigeria Prof Ogogo

Edem Bassey, Calabar

The Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Calabar, Prof. Augustine Ogogo, has said that agriculture remained the most stable revenue earner in Nigeria today because the era of oil is almost over.

Speaking at the flagging off of the first phase of one million Cocoa nurseries in Akim/Asomba communities in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state, Prof Ogogo described agriculture as the most enduring revenue earner in the world, noting that the era of oil was fast fading.

He assured the government of the faculty’s readiness to partner with the State Government by using the Cocoa estate for their Students’ practical. “Agriculture remains the most stable revenue earner today because the era of oil is almost over.

“I assure you that the faculty will partner with you and send our students here for practical” and commended the state government for opting to revive Cocoa production in the state.

The State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, who epresented by Special Adviser on Cocoa Development, Mr. Oscar Ofuka, said the flagging off was part of his administration’s effort to make Cocoa the largest revenue earner for the state and Nigeria at large.

Ayade said the location of the Cocoa site in Akamkpa area was meant to prove that Cocoa can be cultivated in every part of the State, “We want to prove to the World that Cross River is the largest producer of Cocoa in Nigeria.

“Cocoa is our heritage and with the new Cocoa revolution currently ongoing in Cross River, we have decided to search every nooks and cranny of the state to revive this age-long heritage.

“Very soon Cross River will not be depended on Federal Allocation to fund other projects because our Cocoa can give us the much needed revenue to do whatever we want” he said.

He maintained that, already the state government, through the department of Cocoa development had acquired 300,000 hectares of land in the two communities for the project.

“Right now we have raised 800,000 Cocoa nurseries and within the week the one million would be completed for the first phase,” he said.

According to him, the organic Cocoa nursery was raised from the Cocoa Research Institute Ikom, adding that within three months, it would be due for planting.