Cross River to estabish new cocoa farm estates in six LGAs

…as Otu pledges support for Calabar golf club

The Cross River State Government has initiated plans to establish six new Cocoa farm estates in six Local Government Areas of the State. The plan was made public during a critical stakeholders engagement meeting held in Calabar under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development.

Speaking at the forum, Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, said that the ongoing process of engaging stakeholders to acquire land for the establishment of Cocoa estates in Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Bekwara, Odukpani, Obubra, and Ikom Local Government Areas.

Ebokpo stressed the importance of stakeholders involvement to ensure the success of this initiative, outlining criteria such as number of hectares, land suitability (soil analysis ) which had been in the works for quite some time as well as community engagements which is at the forefront of Governor Out’s people first agenda.

He emphasized that the project would adopt a complete public-private partnership model where the Government in collaboration with the communities facilitate the development of the new estates.

Meanwhile, Governor Bassey Otu has again reiterated his determination to give the Calabar Golf Club the needed support to enable it rank among the best in the Country.

Governor Otu gave the assurance during the closing ceremony of the 1st year Anniversary of Governor’s Inaugural/Democracy Day Golf Kitty that was rounded off amid fanfare in Calabar.

The governor, who was represented by Agnes Atsu, the Commissioner for Sports Development, used the occasion to thank the members of the Club for the honour accorded the governor and assured them that the State number one citizen would embrace the game of golf in no distant time.

The Sports Commissioner, who was persuaded by the Club to sponsor the Ladies Golf Clinic with a view to popularizing the game among women in the State, gave the greenlight that the Ladies Golf Clinic would be organized as soon as possible, asking the Club leadership to furnish her with details as regard the programme.

Earlier, the captain of the Calabar Golf Club, A. M. Sabo, a retired Major General congratulated the governor on his achievements and one year in office. He expressed delight that the governor had shown tremendous interest in the game and expressed the hope that the partnership should be
sustained for the club to grow to an eccentric heights.

Igbe Aruku, the Chairman Organizing Committee of the Competition, commended the governor for making the people to experience what democracy is all about. He however thanked the sponsors and all those who contributed to the success of the event.