IKOM (CROSS RIVER) – Dr Francis Adie, the Director of Administration, Cross River Ministry of Agriculture, has reiterated the commitment of the government to support farmers in the state boost their productivity.
Adie told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ikom, that the government was determined to develop agriculture in the state in line with the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said that agriculture remained the alternative to crude oil as Nigeria’s main source of foreign exchange earner.
He advised youths in the state to embrace agriculture as a business and urged them to cultivate cocoa, cassava and rice among other crops to enhance their standard of living.
He also urged the youths to venture into piggery and poultry.
“I assure our farmers that the government is ready to provide land, credit facilities and agricultural inputs to those who are ready to take up farming as business, ‘’ he said.
The director said the government had provided improved free cocoa seedlings to farmers across the state.
He said the ministry had over the years made efforts to sustain the high quality of cocoa, palm oil and kernel produced in the state to meet international standard. (NAN)