By Asuquo Cletus Felix
The Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has initiated a statewide irrigation project.
It was gathered that the initiative is in a collaborative partnership agreement Dam Tech Nigeria Limited, a consultancy firm tasked with overseeing the design, study, and procurement processes essential for the project's success.
In a press statement issued on Monday by Nsa Gill the Chief Press Secretary to Governor, it disclosed that the partnership
was signed by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, who signed the agreement on behalf of the state in his office.
According to him, the signage of the initiative is in line with the Otu's administrative "vision to position Cross River as a leading seed-producing state".
"This consultancy agreement places Dam Tech Nigeria Limited in charge of engineering design, studies, and procurement models needed to develop our statewide irrigation infrastructure.
"Despite our extensive floodplains, we've been unable to utilize this water effectively due to structural issues. This initiative aims to change that.
"Cross River State is now focused on commercial agriculture. We can no longer rely solely on subsistence farming with the amount of arable land we have. Our nine-point agenda prioritizes crop production and water management, to produce key grains like rice, maize, wheat, barley, and cowpea year-round.
"You have the unwavering backing of Governor Bassey Otu. We must ensure this project's success, especially as it aligns with the federal government's Sustainable Power and Innovation Initiative Project (SPIN-Project)."
The Commissioner also announced a forthcoming $15 million World Bank initiative aimed at supporting the state's irrigation infrastructure development. He credited this achievement to the state's proactive efforts in advancing irrigation practices.
He assured Dam Tech Nigeria Limited of the government's full support, emphasizing the importance of the project's success.
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