1000 Cross River Cocoa Farmers Undergo Screening

Over one thousand cocoa farmers in Cross River State have presented themselves for screening and renewal of allocation for 2017.

This was disclosed by Chairman of the review exercise Mr.Mbek Tangban while welcoming the Special Adviser to Gov. Ben Ayade on the Department for Cocoa Development, Mr.Oscar Ofuka, who was on an inspection tour to monitor progress of the lease renewal exercise recently.

Tangban who said the turnout had been encouraging charged more farmers to turn up for the exercise which commenced in January 2017 to end in February.

In his remark, Ofuka stated that there is no going back in the exercise in spite of the propaganda by some disgruntled elements that cocoa farmers should boycott the review.

Ofuka, who was accompanied on the inspection by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Project, Mr.Ikpe Emmanuel, expressed confidence at the commitment shown by the members of the review committee and the turn out of cocoa farmers.

He said the review was the only means of ascertaining the actual number of cocoa farmers, attract investors and shore up revenue for services of the state government.

Cocoa farmers who bared their mines on the review said the exercise would guarantee independence of cocoa farmers in the state, correct conflicting claims in the last year exercise and ensure that cocoa farmers are organised into small holders cooperatives.

Meanwhile, the state government has said that it is aware of plans by some group of people to disrupt the work of the committee set up to carry out this year`s review.

A statement by the State Security Adviser Jude Ngaji warned those who have no business with the committee not to disrupt the exercise or else the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on them.

The farmers were also charged to conduct themselves in an orderly manner during the exercise, adding that the review is to curb leakages in revenue accruable to the state government coffers, create a data base for cocoa farmers and strengthen| the rehabilitation of the cocoa estates in the state.