The Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mohammed A. Ibrahim, has met with Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State at the Government House in Calabar to discuss the development of a subnational non-ISPO de-risking mechanism aimed at expanding access to agricultural finance in the state. The NADF delegation was accompanied by its technical partners, PROPCOM+, led by Country Director Adiya Ode.
Governor Otu welcomed the initiative and directed the State Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation to establish a technical committee to work with NADF and PROPCOM+ to review and adapt the de-risking framework. He said the move would ensure the framework meets the needs of local stakeholders and supports the state’s agricultural priorities.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed A. Ibrahim, commended the Cross River State government for its forward-looking agricultural policies. He highlighted the creation of the Cross River State Agricultural Development Fund, designed to stimulate the commercialisation of agriculture and improve access to finance for both smallholder farmers and agribusinesses. He also mentioned Project Grow, which aims to empower agribusinesses, MSMEs, and smallholder farmers across the 18 local government areas of the state.
Mr Ibrahim praised Governor Otu’s commitment to research and innovation through the establishment of an Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) substation in the state. He noted that such an initiative would strengthen evidence-based agricultural development and enhance primary production.
He reaffirmed NADF’s commitment to collaborate with subnational governments, emphasising that states play a crucial role in achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on food security and sovereignty. According to him, “NADF remains determined to support initiatives that align with national objectives while empowering farmers, strengthening value chains, and promoting sustainable agricultural transformation.”
He described Cross River’s approach as similar to the Brazilian model of agricultural transformation, combining strong leadership, innovative financing, and technology-driven farming to achieve inclusive growth and food security.
