Joel Ajayi

The Cross River State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to build a technology-driven, transparent and globally competitive agricultural sector with the institutionalization of the State Agricultural Traceability System.

The initiative, according to government, is designed to strengthen investor confidence, enhance food security, improve market access, and position Cross River’s agricultural commodities for premium domestic and international markets.

This commitment was reinforced during a high-level strategic meeting held in Calabar between top government officials and development partners.

In attendance were the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey; the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, KSM; the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, Rt. Hon. Deacon George O’ben-Etchi, PhD, FCIA; the Chairman of the Multi-Stakeholder Committee on Cocoa, Coffee and Oil Palm, Prof. Susan Ohen; the Director General of the Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA), Mr. William Archibong; and the leadership of Pula Advisors, implementing partners of the Cross River State Agricultural Traceability Project.

Speaking during the meeting, the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, described agriculture as the cornerstone of Cross River State’s economic diversification agenda and reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu-led administration to initiatives that deliver measurable socio-economic impact.

The Pula Advisors delegation was led by its Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Thomas Njeru, and included the Commercial Director, Mr. Sukirti Vinayale, and the Country Director, Dr. Michael Enahoro.

Also speaking, Pula Country Director, Dr. Michael Enahoro, said the partnership will help farmers directly.

“We are proud to support Cross River in building a system that puts farmers first. With verifiable data and traceability, our farmers can now access finance, premium markets and global opportunities that were previously out of reach,” Dr. Enahoro said

The engagement formed part of a comprehensive review of the project’s implementation progress and the development of a sustainable transition framework that will progressively transfer the operational ownership and management of the Agricultural Traceability System to the Cross River State Government. Officials described the transition as a significant milestone in ensuring long-term institutional sustainability while embedding digital traceability within the State’s agricultural governance architecture.

At the heart of the discussions was a shared vision of transforming Cross River State into Nigeria’s leading destination for digitally enabled agriculture, where every stage of agricultural production, from the farm to the marketplace, is driven by reliable data, transparency, accountability and internationally accepted traceability standards.

The Agricultural Traceability System is expected to revolutionize agricultural administration by providing verifiable digital identities for farmers, geo-referenced farm mapping, commodity tracking, production records and value-chain intelligence. Beyond strengthening planning and policy implementation, the system will improve access to finance, facilitate quality assurance, support climate-smart agriculture, strengthen food safety compliance, and unlock new opportunities for export certification.

He emphasized that digital innovation and institutional reforms are fundamental to building a resilient agricultural economy capable of attracting investment, expanding internally generated revenue, creating sustainable employment, and improving the livelihoods of farmers across the State.

The Deputy Governor further assured the Pula Advisors delegation of the State Government’s unwavering support, pledging the necessary policy direction, institutional coordination and enabling environment required to ensure the successful transition and long-term sustainability of the Agricultural Traceability System.

Earlier, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, KSM, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to building an agricultural sector anchored on innovation, evidence-based planning and strategic partnerships.

He described the Agricultural Traceability System as more than a technological solution, noting that it is a strategic governance tool that will redefine agricultural administration in Cross River State by improving data integrity, strengthening farmer inclusion, enhancing commodity competitiveness, and boosting the confidence of investors and development partners.

The Commissioner further disclosed that Cross River State is now European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)-compliant, positioning the State ahead of many sub-national governments in meeting emerging international market requirements.

According to him, “Traceability is no longer optional; it is becoming an indispensable requirement in modern agriculture, particularly as global markets continue to demand greater transparency, sustainability and product authenticity.” He noted that the successful institutionalization of the system would position Cross River State to compete more effectively in regional and international agricultural markets while advancing the Ministry’s vision of building a modern, climate-smart and investment-friendly agricultural economy.

The Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Pula Advisors, Mr. Thomas Njeru, commended the Cross River State Government for its visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to digital agricultural transformation. He acknowledged the strong collaboration between the State Government and its development partners, describing the transition process as a significant step towards strengthening local ownership, institutional resilience and long-term sustainability.

He expressed confidence in the State Government’s capacity to consolidate the gains already achieved and reiterated Pula Advisors’ commitment to supporting Cross River through the transfer and cross-pollination of technical expertise, knowledge and institutional capacity required to sustain the project beyond its implementation phase.

The meeting further underscored the strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, the Forestry Commission, CRGIA and international technical partners in delivering innovative solutions capable of transforming agriculture into a major driver of economic growth and shared prosperity.

As Cross River State continues to implement its agricultural transformation agenda, the institutionalization of the Agricultural Traceability System signals a bold shift towards data-driven governance, enhanced value-chain transparency and globally competitive agricultural production.

The initiative aligns with the People First Agenda of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu and reinforces the Ministry’s commitment to leveraging technology, innovation and strategic partnerships to build a resilient agricultural sector that creates wealth, expands export opportunities, guarantees food security and improves the quality of life of all Cross Riverian

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