By Magnus Effiong
The Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Cocoa Development and Control, Dr. Oscar Ofuka, has said that considering the ongoing cocoa revolution across Cross River, the state was overtaking Cote d’voire as global cocoa leader.
Dr Ofuka who said this in Calabar during the unveiling of 100,000 cocoa nurseries being raised at the CRBC demonstration farm, Calabar, disclosed that the seedlings would be given free to farmers, particularly those in the South, to help revamp cocoa farms in the southern senatorial district of the state.
He explained that with the gesture, moribund estates that had outlived thier usefulness would be regenerated thereby giving such plantations new lease of life.
“The governor, who is my boss, is more emphatic about complete renegation of cocoa production. Cocoa which was abandoned decades backwards when oil was discovered in the country will become the mainstay of the economy of the state.
“Today cocoa is the new gold. It’s a money spinning venture which, if many go into, stand the chance of making many become billionaires.
“I urged young and energetic people of Cross River State to venture into cultivation of cocoa if they have the zeal to better themselves.
“With this initiative of regenerating old plantations, the ultra-modern cocoa processing factory, constructed by the Ben Ayade-led administration won’t lack the basic raw materials to feed the cocoa factory when it becomes fully operational.
“The brand of cocoa nursery we are raising here is organic cocoa that would be devoid of chemical usage to nurture to nurture the cocoa pods,” he stated.
He called on all Cross Riverians to key into the Ayade’s cocoa revolution policy which, he said, was determined to make the state rank among and above countries like Ivory Coast when it comes to production of cocoa.
