Farmers in Cross River State are set to enjoy a bumper harvest this season, according to the Cross River Agricultural Development Programme (ADP). Mr. Mark Ewa, the Coordinator for Cross River North, shared this optimistic outlook in an interview with Pathway News on Sunday in Ogoja.
Ewa attributed the promising harvest to the provision of essential inputs and farming implements by both the Federal and State Governments. He highlighted that this season has been notably different from previous years, where farmers often had to rely solely on their own resources.
“It has been quite an experience for farmers this season in terms of farm input,” Ewa noted. He expressed particular gratitude to the Federal Government for supplying fertilisers, ensuring that the six trucks of MPK fertiliser received were equitably distributed across the five council areas in Cross River North.
Ewa also acknowledged the support from Governor Bassey Otu, who has provided additional assistance to farmers. With this support and favorable rainfall, farmers in Northern Cross River are hopeful for a successful harvest, particularly for crops like rice, soybeans, cowpeas, cassava, and yam.
However, Ewa called on the state government to provide more assistance, particularly in areas such as land preparation, extension services, and irrigation farming. He emphasized the need for irrigation to ensure sufficient water for crops, given the region’s weather conditions.
Ewa also raised concerns about the shortage of extension agents in Cross River North, which has hindered farmers from acquiring new farming techniques. He noted that there are currently fewer than 10 extension agents available, resulting in a ratio of one agent to 5,000 farmers, rather than the ideal one agent to 80 farmers. This shortfall, largely due to retirements without replacements, has made it difficult for farmers to receive the training necessary for maximizing their harvests.
