Cross River invites WCO to revamp its cocoa estates

Cross River State government is looking to turn its vast cocoa sector into a money spinning business as well as enhance its status in the international market.

This was disclosed by the commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Prof Anthony Eneji, in a chat with journalists.

He said they were already in discussions with the World Cocoa Organisation (WCO) to completely overhaul and revamp the aging cocoa sector.

“We will work closely with the World Cocoa Organisation to rehabilitate and expand the existing two cocoa estates in Ikom from the current 3,500 hectares to 10,000 hectares with a view to turning it into a goldmine for the state” he said.

According to Eneji, the state government has established a cocoa processing plant in Ikom, which is expected to process 30,000 metric tons per year.

He said local farmers had shown great interest in cocoa farming such that the state had received about 20,000 applications from farmers who want to farm in the state-owned cocoa plantations.

He also disclosed that the rice mill established in Ogoja would process 40 metric tons daily, adding that the Rice City project in Calabar would also produce high breed rice for farmers to procure.

“We are also looking around for a serious investor for the Boki Oil Palm estate. The investor will carry out a total overhaul because the trees are old. Wilmer Estate is doing well with the Calaro Oil Palm Estate,” he stated.

He explained that the Songhai agric project brought to the state by former Governor Liyel Imoke, was not dead or abandoned, adding that “facilities there are used for training farmers that the state will empower.”