Cross River LG Chairman Advocates for Investment in Cocoa Value Chain
By Uket Oka, Calabar
The Chairman of Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, Hon. Mrs. Beatrice Nyiam, has advocated for the State Government and private sector investment in cocoa processing and other agricultural value chain predominant in the area.
Hon. Nyiam stated that the advocacy was imperative for the economic emancipation of the people of Boki Local Government Area and Cross River State at large.
The Chairman made the advocacy at the Boki Local Government Area Exhibition Stand at the ongoing Cross River Trade Fair in holding at the U.J Esuene Stadium, Calabar, the State Capital.
She lamented the lack of factories in the area over the years which according to her, led to the under utilization as well as wastage of Cocoa and other crops produced in large quantities in the area.
Hon. Nyiam, who also solicited for urgent attention to check the economic waste, said “the people have overtime been faced with various challenges ranging from high cost of transportation orchestrated by the deplorable condition of the federal roads as well as the existence of too many middlemen, among others.
“Lack of government and private sector investment specifically in Cocoa value chain has brought about transfer of wealth to another States because the traders come to their community to buy off the raw cocoa with peanut.
“By rating, Boki and indeed the entire Cross River State is the largest producer of Cocoa in Nigeria, as we may be aware, Cocoa that is produced here is transported to Ondo State, packaged and branded ‘Ondo Cocoa’ thereby transferring our wealth to another place,” Hon Nyiam lamented.
The Chairman further hinted that, with cocoa gaining more global attention, investing in it would detach the State from economic crisis, adding that cocoa is only but one among the many offerings of the Boki people.
She noted that Boki is endowed with many resources both agricultural,natural and human, stressing that, “if fully utilized can be a sure foot for food security and economic prosperity of State.”
