The government of Cross River State in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, has prioritized three plantation crops—oil palm, cocoa, and coffee along with their economic value chains.

The Governor of the State, Bassey Otu, gave priority to the three crops during the inauguration of a multi-stakeholder committee to develop a 7-year strategic framework for the optimization of the oil palm, cocoa, and coffee value chains in Cross River.

Inaugurating the committee, Governor  Otu pointed out that cocoa, coffee, and oil palm are crops in which Cross River State enjoys an unchallenged comparative advantage in the country.

He said the state was determined to derive maximum returns in its areas of advantage and has, after careful consideration, come up with the model of having key stakeholders achieve the dream in an organized and cooperative manner.

He noted that the initiative is also to minimize duplication of effort in certain areas of production while at the same time avoiding the tendency of reaching out to the same technical partners for support, as it is more likely under an alternative multiple committee structure.

The Governor highlighted the committee’s terms of reference to include the following: develop a 7-year strategic plan that outlines strategies that enhance cocoa, coffee, and oil palm cultivation, productivity, and quality; design value chain policies for cocoa and oil palm in such a manner that they encourage direct investment, support farmers, and address market dynamics.

According to the governor, it was also to mobilize resources for the plan to establish six new cocoa estates in Cross River State, which must be in line with climate and biodiversity considerations, and to evaluate existing laws related to cocoa and oil palm production to make necessary adjustments to promote growth.

Governor Out noted that the state is committed to agriculture as a revenue earner, with 3.5 million oil palm seedlings earmarked for planting this fiscal year and the launch of a $30 billion commercial agriculture development fund called Project Grow.

He said they have commenced the extension of the smallholder cocoa development scheme for the new estates and the regeneration of existing ones.

The Cross River Governor  told the committee members that in them lies the future of the agricultural development of Cross River State and, by extension, the hope of our economic revival and development, with the charge that “the time to act is now.”

Speaking on behalf of members of the committee, the chairperson, Professor Susan Ohen, expressed appreciation to the governor for the privilege to serve the state and assured of the commitment to work assiduously to achieve success within the stipulated time frame.