Cross River State on Friday played host to the Agroecological Zonal Workshop of the Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value-Chains for Growth (AGROW) Programme, an ambitious Federal Government initiative supported by the World Bank to overhaul Nigeria’s food systems, strengthen productivity, and make agriculture a profitable enterprise across the federation.
Speaking on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Michael Odere, said the AGROW Programme represents a new era in agricultural programme design, one that prioritises consultation, transparency, and community participation. He explained that unlike past interventions designed centrally from Abuja, AGROW is being shaped directly by farmers, processors, traders, and other key actors who understand real field-level challenges.
Dr. Odere noted that the project seeks to integrate backward and forward linkages across the value chain, reduce food costs, improve food availability, and position agriculture as a sustainable, profitable venture. He said Cross River, located within the Lowland Rainforest Agroecological Zone, has identified priority crops such as rice, cocoa, palm, and cassava but emphasized that stakeholder inputs will determine the final direction.
“Our goal is to listen,” he said. “We want to understand why we are not fully leveraging our comparative advantages, what bottlenecks exist, whether input access, legal constraints, market issues, or infrastructure, and develop realistic solutions from the people themselves.”
He added that the workshop would culminate in a communiqué reflecting shared recommendations across the zone.
The Commissioner also stressed that the project aims to establish a complete, efficient value chain, from production to processing and market access, while addressing persistent barriers such as security concerns, high input costs, and access to farmland.
Representing the Presidential Food Systems Coordination Unit (PFSCU), Mr. Eniola Akindele, who leads Data and Impact Assessment, said AGROW is designed to “change the way projects are conceptualized and executed in Nigeria.” He noted that the programme is being developed across seven agroecological zones to ensure tailored implementation. According to him, AGROW aims to make Nigeria’s food systems sustainable after years of volatility and will adopt a different, more accountable model of government intervention.
Also speaking, the Accountant General of Cross River State, Dr. (Mrs.) Glory Effiong, said AGROW presents a significant opportunity to rebuild food security through smarter value-chain support systems. She highlighted key priorities raised during the engagement, including farmland insurance, access to grants, modular processing facilities for smallholder farmers, and tools such as palm oil “tracers” that help farmers improve product quality.
Dr. Effiong emphasized the need for sustainable preservation systems for perishable fruits, noting that farmers often suffer huge losses during peak seasons. “We want to ensure our farmers no longer lose income because their produce perishes,” she said, adding that improved preservation would also stabilize prices for consumers year-round.
The business community also lent its voice to the discussions. President of the Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CALCCIMA), Mr. Kelly Ayamba, described AGROW as a major step toward modernizing Nigeria’s agricultural value chains. He said the programme’s design, which includes validating inputs from the Technical Working Group through wide stakeholder consultations, is crucial for ensuring that the initiative remains grounded and implementable.
Ayamba stressed that farmers must adopt a new mindset by seeing agriculture as a full-fledged business. “The days of subsistence farming are gone,” he said. “Agriculture today is about income generation, competitiveness, and economic contribution. With the funding available, from the federal government, states, and institutions like the Bank of Industry, opportunities are vast for those who approach agriculture as a business.”
He cited Cross River’s ₦2 billion joint agricultural processing fund with the Bank of Industry as one example of available support that many farmers are still unaware of.
In his remarks, Prince Muyi Ladoja, Managing Director of Ayip Eku Oil Palm and a long-standing agricultural investor in Cross River, said smallholder farmers remain the backbone of the sector but face numerous challenges, from land clearing to input financing and lack of guaranteed markets. He welcomed AGROW as a long-overdue intervention that could bridge the gap between small farmers and larger processors.
For sustained results, Ladoja recommended strong transparency mechanisms and the involvement of independent oversight bodies to ensure that commitments under the programme are honoured. “Treat it like a business,” he advised. “If we say we will do something, let there be accountability to ensure it happens.”
The workshop featured technical presentations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions that brought together farmers, investors, government ministries, civil society groups, and partners.
