Cross River State Govt poised to reposition oil palm, cassava as major export
Cross River State Government is poised to reposition Oil Palm and Cassava as major export products in the country soon.
This was contained in a message delivered recently by the state Commissioner, Ministry of Commerce, Dr Rosemary Archibong at the Eyo Ita House, Obudu Hall, Calabar during a one-day sensitization forum on positioning Oil Palm Cassava as a major Export product of the state.
The event was organized by the Cross River State Committee on Export Promotion in collaboration with the state Ministry of Commerce.
In her address, the state Commissioner for Commerce, Dr Mrs Rosemary Archibong identified why Cross River State is yet to leverage the huge potential of the two products hence, the need for the event.
The Commissioner said Nigeria’s Cassava Production capacity is put at 45 million metric tons per annum, estimated at 18B Dollars.
According to the Commissioner, Cross River is reputed to be the largest cassava producer in the country but the state involvement in production and exportation of this product is negligible despite the existence of the ports, Export Processing Zone and the activities of the Cassava Growers Associations and other facilities.
Her words, “Cross River State is yet to leverage on the huge potentials and the demand of the two commodities of Cassava and Oil Palm in the global market””
She said, Federal Government has decided to focus on the non-oil sector of the economy.
“Our oil revenue is failing to yield the projected result. Oil is no more the gold that Nigeria can rely on so the Federal Government decided to look into another sector which is agriculture and the main focus is on the exportable crops,
She said, “Henceforth, as the potential for the product has been identified, the state is ready to partner with stakeholders to redouble her export capacity,” she said.
During an interview, the Commissioner also stated that “After the Oil market slumped in the world market federal government decided to look into another source of revenue across the country and identify Cassava and Oil Palm as one of the non-oil exportable products.
“”In Cross River, we cannot go on like this we got to look inward, we got to leverage what God had nationally blessed us with. Everything around here makes cassava and oil palm beneficial to people.
“That was why we organised this event to sensitise our people on how they can leverage this enormous opportunity, for them to arrive and improve their output for exports” Dr Archibong said.
One of the cassava farmers, Abang Peter who also attended the event said, “I am satisfied and impacted throughout the session, I have gained a lot, I will now go back and Improved in my production. Now that I have discovered cassava as one of the major export products in the country I will go back to improve my output”
Another participant, Ofem Oyong an Oil Palm farmer express optimism that his eyes have opened at the event and opined that he will improve and increase his yield for export, “I will go all out to ensure I improved and increased yield to meet International standards for export””
In the technical session of the event, academicians and other experts in exportation in the NEPC brainstormed on the way forwards.
Damian Omorogbe, of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council who is a Trade Promotion Advisor, NEPC TPA take on the “Road Map to Positioning Oil Palm and Cassava for Export””
Other resource persons include Dr Effa of the University of Calabar lectures on, “Increase Production and Productivity of Cassava in Cross River State for Export””
Dr O. Solomon of NIFOR, teaches, “Increase Production and Productivity of the Oil Palm in Cross River for Export””
Good Will massages were also received from key stakeholders after the event they include, including OPGAN, Cassava Grower Association, NIRSAL, The CBN, and the WILMAR.
The event was attended by Hundreds of participants from different key sectors of the economy.
