THISDAY

C’River to Inaugurate 30,0000 Tons Cocoa Processing Plant

- Bassey Inyang

The Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, has announced that the 30,000 tonnes per annum cocoa processing plant in Ikom, Central Cross River State which is currently under constructi­on will be completed and commission­ed soon.

A visibly elated Ayade made the announceme­nt in reaction to the recent delivery of equipment for the plant, which he said would provide employment opportunit­ies when it becomes operationa­l.

“I am really impressed. As you can see, intellectu­al money is on display here. From what I have seen, the contractor­s deserve excellent pats on the back. This is what we call commitment and consistenc­y,” Ayade said while inspecting ongoing work at the plant.

Ayade said the plant was configured with the capacity to process cocoa beans to chocolate bars. “Again, we are going to be the first in Africa as this is the first cocoa processing plant that will process cocoa beans to chocolate,” the governor said.

Ayade said with the delivery of the equipment, his vision for cocoa revolution in the state was crystalisi­ng.

The governor said the plant would bring about value-chain addition to cocoa, which will ultimately enrich cocoa farmers in the state.

“This is the spirit of intellectu­al money and Cross River ultimately will be proud that I knew where I was going from the beginning.

“I am following an agenda that at the end of my eight years in office, when every single citizen of the state remembers my days, he or she will say this young man had a great vision.

“For all the years gone by Cross River has been producing cocoa for other states to bear the name because we did not have an off-take mechanism, we did not have a programme by government to buy off the cocoa at good rates. So, outsiders used to come in and buy the cocoa from us and grade it as cocoa from their own state,”Ayade said.

He said the plant would offer cocoa farmers in the state, “the opportunit­y, platform and industry to process their own cocoa, giving a premium value for money. A cocoa house is going to be built here. Once you have a cocoa farm, you just come here, collect money during harvest, we take your cocoa, so you have money for the product and you don’t have to go to bank to get a loan.”

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