Ministry Partners AFAN to Alleviate Poverty in Cross River

The Cross River State Ministry of Agriculture says it was willing to partner with All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN) to alleviate poverty in the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Ukam Edodi, made the assertion, on Tuesday, in Calabar, when the executive members of AFAN, Cross River chapter, paid him a visit.

He described farming as one sector that had continued to sustain the lives of the ordinary man, in spite of various challenges facing the sector.

“I think that if more emphasis has been put on agriculture since independence, Nigeria would have been better placed, than wholly depending on crude oil, which has created uncertainty today,” he said.

The commissioner charged AFAN to be competent and resourceful and to look into processing and marketing along the value chain to help sustain the farmers and the economy.

He assured them of the ministry’s willingness to assist, within the limits of available resources.

The State Chairman of AFAN, Mr. Etim Nakanda, said their interest to add value through the processing, packaging and marketing of agricultural value chain would create direct employment.

Nakanda added that this would also eradicate glut and post-harvest waste.