Cross River State Government has launched a major agricultural initiative aimed at improving food security, nutrition, and household livelihoods through the distribution of improved cowpea seeds to farmers and families across the state. The programme was flagged off on Wednesday at the Calabar Municipal Council, marking a key step in the state’s food security strategy.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, who presided over the event, said the state government is taking bold steps to ensure that families have access to affordable, protein-rich food. “We are not just distributing seeds today but deepening our collective commitment to food security, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods for the people of Cross River State,” Ebokpo stated.
The distribution is part of the homestead cowpea cultivation programme, a component of Governor Bassey Otu’s Food Security and Nutrition Initiative. According to Ebokpo, a total of 3,600 packs of 1.5kg improved cowpea seeds, known as SAMPEA 20-T, are being shared with farmers and households. He explained that the programme will allow families to cultivate beans in their backyards and community spaces, helping to bridge critical nutritional gaps, especially for children.
Ebokpo highlighted that food inflation has made beans, a staple food in Nigerian homes, increasingly expensive in the southern part of the country due to high transportation costs. Prices of animal protein such as beef, chicken, and fish have also risen sharply, leaving many families unable to afford a balanced diet.
“By promoting homestead cowpea cultivation, we are offering families an affordable, accessible, and sustainable protein source,” he said.
The commissioner noted that beneficiaries are encouraged to “consume and conserve” by eating part of their harvest while saving seeds for future planting. He said state extension officers will support farmers with technical guidance to ensure continuous seed multiplication, which could lead to smallholder and commercial production.
Dr. John Ikongha, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, emphasised the importance of nutrition and identified availability, access, utilisation, and stability as the four pillars of food security. He called the initiative “home-based” as it encourages cultivation within households. Director of Agricultural Services, Ubi Ubana, advised farmers on safe seed handling and explained that “the quantity given is 1.5kg. When properly planted, at the end of 75 to 90 days, you are going to harvest about 100kg of beans.” He cautioned that the seeds are treated and poisonous if consumed directly, urging farmers to wash their hands after planting.
Hilary Bisong, Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition, pledged legislative backing for the initiative. “You cannot have healthy people that are hungry. You cannot do projects when people are hungry,” he said, stressing that cowpea will be a cheaper alternative to animal protein.
He also thanked the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the First Lady of Cross River State, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, for championing the project.
Stakeholders and beneficiaries who attended the launch praised the programme, saying it has renewed their confidence in a secure agricultural future and brought hope to households across the state.