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Cross River State has announced plans to engage about 20,000 direct and 80,000 indirect beneficiaries under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme, with 60 per cent of the opportunities reserved for youths.
The beneficiaries, mainly cocoa, rice, and cassava farmers, will be trained and supported on climate-smart agriculture, modern agribusiness practices, and improved production techniques. The initiative aims to boost productivity, strengthen farmers’ resilience to climate change, and improve value addition across the cocoa value chain.
The Gender and Social Safeguard Officer, Dr. Gloria Onete-Ogban, disclosed this in Calabar during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation programme organised by the Cross River State SAPZ. She said the indirect beneficiaries would be engaged during the construction, processing, and installation phases of the project.
Dr. Onete-Ogban added that the programme is designed to be inclusive, noting that “the remaining opportunities will be shared equally between women and men to promote sustainable development.”
The sensitisation event brought together stakeholders from the state government, agribusiness and private sectors, development agencies, and farmer groups to harmonise strategies aimed at strengthening cocoa production and expanding agricultural value chains in Cross River State.
Welcoming participants, the State Coordinator of the SAPZ programme, Victor Edet, described the initiative as “a platform designed to address critical infrastructure gaps and stimulate business growth.”
He explained that the programme would help tackle major challenges affecting agribusinesses, including poor electricity supply, which raises the cost of doing business. “The SAPZ is structured to create a conducive environment for agro-industrial development in the state,” he said.
The State Chairman of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Ramsey Ebamdeb, said the project would help rejuvenate old cocoa plantations, enhance productivity, and generate employment through value addition. He explained that “improved inputs and new cocoa varieties will replace ageing farms, while industrial hubs will improve pricing and strengthen the cocoa value chain.”
The President of the Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Kelly Ayamba, called on residents and investors to take advantage of the SAPZ project, describing it as “a major boost to the state’s economy.” Ayamba said the chamber would continue to sensitise its members and advocate for an enabling business environment to support the programme’s success.
