Cross River Govt Signs N18b Offtake Agreement With Flour Mills
By Uket Oka, Calabar
Ahead of the planting season for maize and soybeans in Cross River State, Project Grow, an initiative of Governor Bassey Otu, has signed an offtake agreement with Flour Mills Nigeria Plc to supply 20,000 metric tonnes of maize and 2,000 metric tons of soybeans.
The signing of the agreement on Wednesday between the state government and Flour Mills is to kick-start this year’s commercial farming season and have ready markets for the farmers.
Speaking at the signing the agreement on behalf of the Cross River State Government at the State Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, expressed confidence in Project Grow’s ability to meet the agreed metrics tonnes for maize and soybeans on time.
Ebokpo noted that the initiative was conceived by Governor Bassey Otu even before he assumed office.
He described Project Grow as the “progenitor” of shared prosperity and a guiding framework for the administration’s effort to enhance the lives of Cross River residents.
Speaking on the initiative, the State Director of Project Grow, Mr Dennis Ikpali, highlighted it’s market-driven approach, which bridges the gap between demand and supply by bringing on board stakeholders, including service providers, intermediaries, and processors.
“It addresses market challenges and proffer solutions to facilitate agribusiness. With the agreement for 20,000 metric tonnes of maize and two thousand metric tonnes of soybeans, 100,000 farmers across the state will be empowered to meet the necessary production targets and fulfill Flour Mills Nigeria Plc’s feed requirements,” Ikpali stated.
Also speaking, a representative of Flour Mills, Alhaji Ibrahim Hussaini, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the agreement, urging Project Grow to supply high-quality seeds for optimal production.
Earlier, the State Director of Soil Management, Mr Brian Ugbe, stated that the offtake valued at N18 billion is a significant achievement worth celebrating.
Ugbe commended the state government for fostering a supportive agribusiness environment through Project Grow.
Various stakeholders expressed optimism about the Memorandum of Underwtanding (MoU)’s success in their goodwill messages.
Chairman, Governing Council of the State College of Agriculture, Obubra, Prof. Gertrude Njar, pledged to leverage the institution’s expertise to ensure production meets global standards.
The State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Joke Oyenuga, assured that disciplined Corps Members would be assigned to assist in the project.
Similarly, the CEO of Nigeria Agriculture Mechanisation and Equipment Leasing Company, Dr Ahmed Adekunle, expressed readiness to provide mechanisation services for timely production.
