The World Bank has released $5 million (about N800 million) to Cross River State government for distribution to major processors of agricultural produce to enable them expand production.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Agriculture in the State, Mr. James Aniyom, who explained that the fund would be disbursed in such a way that each of the major farmers in the state got a reasonable sum to enable him or her farm more, thereby guaranteeing food security in the state and to also create jobs for the unemployed.
Aniyom said the N800m would be disbursed in the next two months, stating that only recognised major farmers would benefit as government wanted to encourage them to produce more and make the state truly the bread basket of the nation.
The Commissioner revealed that any of the registered 114,000 farmers in the state, who wanted loan from the state government must be prepared to have his farm surveyed and if the farm met the criteria set, such a farmer would be given the loan, as the era of giving out loans without having the farms surveyed was over.
“In the past we’ve had this experience where a farmer will tell you his farm is 5,000 hectares but when you survey the farm you discover that it covers only 500 hectares. Government is not ready for that again. We want to know those, who are genuine farmers and the size of their farms,” he said.
On why mechanised farming was yet to begin in the state, Aniyom said the only way to mechanise agriculture in the state was to start with value chain (processing, production and marketing) like in the northern parts of the country, noting that the terrain in the south was not like that of the north.
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