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In a significant boost for agriculture in Cross River State, 200 farmers in Odukpani Local Government Area will each receive ₦1 million to cultivate a high-yielding, disease-resistant maize variety.
Key Highlights:
- Project Grow Initiative: The loans are part of the state government’s Project Grow initiative, which aims to cultivate 2,000 hectares of maize across four communities in Odukpani. The project is being implemented in collaboration with Flour Mills Nigeria, development partners, and financial institutions.
- Funding and Support: Each selected farmer will receive ₦1 million from the project sponsors. Flour Mills Nigeria will purchase the maize during harvest for feed production.
- Land Preparation and Cultivation: As of the latest update, 220 hectares of land are ready for cultivation, with a goal to reach 2,000 hectares by the end of the year. Initial cultivation will cover 120 hectares in Odukpani, 105 hectares in Obanliku, and 15 hectares in Obubura.
- Maize Variety: The project will use 120 bags of early-maturing, high-yield, drought, and fall army worm-resistant maize. This test phase will assess the maize variety’s performance before expanding to the full 2,000 hectares.
- Encouragement for Commercial Agriculture: Local leaders, including Justin Asuquo from the Obong’s Palace, emphasized the shift from subsistence to commercial agriculture, urging farmers to embrace this opportunity to improve their farming practices and potentially become successful entrepreneurs.
- Inclusivity: Faith Omori, the USAID Coordinator in Cross River, highlighted the importance of including women farmers in the project to ensure fairness and maximize the initiative’s impact.
This initiative is expected to transform farming practices in Cross River State, supporting economic growth and enhancing agricultural productivity.