October 26, (THEWILL) – The Cross River State Government has commenced moves to attain self-sufficiency and earn foreign exchange with cassava production.
The State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, disclosed this in Calabar while flagging off a stakeholders consultative forum on the development of the draft Cross River State cassava value chain policy.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Anthony Owan Enoh, said the government hopes to achieve self-reliance and earn “cassa-dollar” through cassava production.
“We want to bring synergy between the modern and traditional practices and come up with the newest practices to bear with what we have been doing. Our cassava will become our oil, we hope to put our best foot forward and make the money we did not have.
“Our ability to compete with other states rests entirely on agriculture, which is our mainstay. We hope to tap into our energies, intelligence and resources that will make our State a better place.
“Going forward, we hope to make agriculture an agro-business and ensure that no other state can compete with us in cassava production, besides attaining self-sufficiency through cassava production,” he said.
The Governor added that his administration’s People’s First Policy also entails people’s participation in policy formulation and implementation.
He added that he does not believe that the government is a know-all and that formulating a cassava policy without the input of stakeholders would be “anti-people’s first”.
Earlier in his remarks, the State’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Johnson Ebokpo, said the State Governor has consistently seen the potential of cassava as a catalyst for positive change in the State.
He added that “with the proper policies and collective effort, cassava can transform our state into an agricultural powerhouse, creating jobs, enhancing food security, and boosting our economy.
“The Cassava Policy Drafting team will play a crucial role in shaping this journey. This policy, once drafted, will not remain a mere document; it will be sent to our esteemed House of Assembly for proper legislation, providing a legal foundation for our cassava aspirations.
“This will ensure that the policy is not just a dream but a blueprint for success, guiding us towards a brighter and more prosperous future.”
About the Author
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
