By Esther Samson
The Nigerian government has officially flagged off the 2024/2025 national dry season farming in Cross River State, a key initiative aimed at boosting agricultural productivity in the Niger Delta region.
The event, part of a five-day National Council meeting on agriculture hosted by the state, is set to increase food production, enhance food security, and encourage year-round farming activities in the region.
This year’s dry season farming initiative in Cross River includes the introduction of wheat cultivation, making the state the 16th wheat-producing state in Nigeria and the only one in the southern part of the country.
Governor Bassey Otu, represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, expressed gratitude for the inclusion of Cross River in the National Agricultural Growth Support Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project, which seeks to expand crop production in Nigeria.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who was present at the event, emphasized the importance of the initiative as part of the Federal Government’s strategy to achieve food security across Nigeria, with particular focus on the Niger Delta.
He also noted that this dry season farming program is aimed at reducing seasonal food shortages and increasing local food supply.
Additionally, the launch of the dry season farming was accompanied by the commissioning of a state-of-the-art fish hatchery in Calabar.
Funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) under the LIFE-ND project, the hatchery will support the region’s aquaculture sector by producing over 5 million juveniles quarterly.
This development is expected to lower production costs for local fish farmers and enhance food availability in the region.
The Cross River government’s commitment to agricultural development is further reinforced by the ongoing partnership with the World Bank through the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria Project.
This initiative aims to improve irrigation systems, ensuring that farmers in the state have the resources they need to cultivate crops throughout the year.
With the flag-off of dry season farming, the Nigerian government has underscored its commitment to supporting agricultural growth in the Niger Delta, aiming to secure long-term food production and improve the livelihoods of farmers in the region.
