Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has received a comprehensive 7-year Strategic Development Plan for Cocoa, Oil Palm, and Coffee, aimed at establishing the state as a global hub for sustainable and traceable agro-production. The plan, developed by a Multi-Stakeholder Committee, outlines a transformative roadmap to make Cross River a major player in global agricultural exports.
Governor Otu commended the committee for its dedication and professionalism, describing the submission as a vital step toward the economic revitalization of the state. He emphasized that sustainable economic transformation must be anchored in a revitalized, profitable, and globally competitive agricultural sector.
The strategic plan envisions Cross River’s emergence as a global leader in sustainable cocoa, coffee, and oil palm production, with a strong focus on traceability, certification, and export readiness. To ensure immediate follow-through, Governor Otu announced several actionable steps, including the development of a detailed implementation roadmap within six weeks and the establishment of a dedicated Cash Crop Development Agency within four months.
The Governor also revealed that the state will commence active engagement with investors and stakeholders toward the launch of new agricultural estates by July 2025. He expressed gratitude to development partners, including the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), for their technical support and contributions to the strategic plan.
The Chairperson of the Strategic Committee, Prof. Susan Ohen, highlighted that the roadmap was carefully designed to meet both domestic needs and international export standards, with a focus on traceability and certification benchmarks. The Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Johnson Ekpobo, praised the plan’s capacity to transform the state’s agricultural landscape.
With the unveiling of this strategic roadmap, Cross River State takes a bold step toward becoming a national and global leader in agro-industrial development.
