In a bid to escalate Cocoa production across Cross River Southern Senatorial District, the State Government is targeting no fewer than one hundred thousand seedlings for the 2022 planting season to service the plantations.
Governor Ben Ayade made this known in Càlabar during the Flag off of the pre-planting demonstration of cocoa seedlings for the new Farming year.
Ayade who was represented by his deputy Chief of Staff, Ani Esin says all the three Senatorial Districts of Cross River will now be planting cocoa all year round.
He said Cocoa business is a lucrative one and capable of changing the financial status of citizens of Cross River State.
Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Cocoa Control and Development, Oscar Ofuka, said the exercise which was a continuous one will replace unyielding cocoa trees with the new seedlings .
Ofuka says Cross River State,which is the second largest cocoa producer in Nigeria has through the graduates’ Cocoa farming initiative created jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
