By BENSON EZUGWU

Dr Oscar Ofuka, Special Adviser on Cocoa Development and Control to Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River, says the ongoing revolution in Cocoa sub-sector will catapult Cross River to the top of Cocoa producing chat in Nigeria.

He said this on Tuesday in Calabar during the harvesting and raising of new Cocoa seedlings at the premises of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC).

Ofuka said that the cocoa revolution agenda of Gov. Ayade’s administration was spreading like wild fire across all nooks and crannies of the state.

“A lot of people had this notion that cocoa cannot grow well outside Etung and Ikom local government areas.

“But with the current revolution we are moving cocoa plantations to all the local government areas.

“The CRBC Calabar cocoa plantation was initiated two years ago.

“As you can see, this is the third time we are harvesting here, just to prove that Cocoa can grow very well in Calabar and, by extension, the Southern Senatorial district,” he said.

The Special Adviser added that the seedlings generated after the harvest would be redistributed to cocoa farmers across the seven Local Government Areas in the southern senatorial district for planting.

“We want to spread cocoa plantations across the three senatorial districts after which we shall know the zone that is more fertile for cocoa production,” he said.

He commended the State Government for providing the enabling environment to Cocoa farmers for smooth cultivation.

Ofuka also said that the processing of cocoa in the state would be made easier when the state’s cocoa processing Plant in Ikom was completed.

Speaking, Mr Ani Essien, who represented the Chief of Staff to the Governor, urged people of Cross River to key into the cocoa revolution agenda to make the state the largest cocoa producing state in Nigeria.

According to him, the governor was very passionate about agriculture, and cocoa in particular, knowing full wellthat that the state had arable land for cocoa cultivation.

“I want to call on our people to key into the cocoa revolution so that our state will be the leading cocoa producing state in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Frank Odey, Director, News and Current Affairs CRBC, lauded the Special Adviser for his zeal and commitment towards achieving the government’s set goals.

According to him, as a Government establishment the organ will continue to key into cocoa revolution agenda of the state government. (NAN)