FG to partner Cross River in agricultural production

President Mohammadu Buhari on Tuesday said the Federal Government would partner any state that engaged in agriculture as a way of diversifying the economy.
President Buhari, who assured Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State that the Federal Government would partner the state government in its effort to develop agriculture in the state.
The President directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture through its anchor Borrowers Programme to assist the state government develop agriculture, especially the Rice Seedling Factory, cocoa processing factory in Ikom, Banana plantation in Odukpani Local Government Area, Rice Mill Factory in Ogoja, and Cotton Factory in Yala, among others agricultural value chain in the state.
President Buhari said this at the official commissioning ceremony of Cross River State Seed and Seedling Factory Calabar held at the Rice City and Industrial Park.
The President praised the governor for taking a bold step in agricultural revolution as a way of moving the state forward and over dependent from statutory allocation.
“Two years ago, I was here in Calabar in my first official visit to flag off the 274km superhighway by Governor Ayade, that was my first official visit to any state since I assume office. Today, I am here to commission the rice seed and seedling factory as a flagship in agricultural production. I am very satisfied with the state government effort in agricultural revolution in the state as my agricultural policy is working and yielding fruit,” the President said.
Earlier, Governor Ayade and the commissioner for agriculture, Anthony Eneji, said the President was very clear when he came to the roadmap of agriculture as an alternative to oil, so if the President could make that choice, ‘’it is our own duty as governors to drive it into reality.”
According to Ayade, Nigeria spends over N400 billion importing rice every year, and additional N60 billion in the months of Christmas, so averagely the governor disclosed translating to N460 billion annually.
The governor stated that it was very clear that if we must feed the growing population, growing rapidly, “we cannot continue to import food, as rice is a stable food.”
The President also commissioned Navy Reference Hospital, 100 unit’s model bricks accommodation, and foundation laying ceremony of Nigeria War College Calabar, as part of activities in the state.