Gov Otu Flags off 2026 Wet Season Farming, Distributes Seed Yams to Boost Food Security

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu, Wednesday flagged off the 2026 Wet Season Farming Programme with the distribution of improved seed yam inputs to farmers across the state, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to food security, rural prosperity and sustainable agricultural development. The flag-off ceremony held in Calabar, amid renewed optimism for increased food production, […]

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu, Wednesday flagged off the 2026 Wet Season Farming Programme with the distribution of improved seed yam inputs to farmers across the state, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to food security, rural prosperity and sustainable agricultural development.

The flag-off ceremony held in Calabar, amid renewed optimism for increased food production, featured the distribution of improved seed yams and other agricultural inputs to beneficiaries drawn from the 18 local government areas of the state, including farmers’ cooperatives, women groups, youths and agricultural extension workers.

Representing Governor Otu at the event, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo Jr., said the early commencement of the 2026 wet season farming programme was a deliberate strategy by the administration to ensure farmers receive critical inputs in good time to maximize the planting season.

According to him, agriculture remains the backbone of Cross River’s economy and a major pillar of the administration’s “People First” agenda.

“We are not just talking about food security; we are taking deliberate and practical steps to make it a reality. This distribution exercise is part of our broader vision to transform Cross River into the food basket of the South-South and Nigeria at large,” he stated.

Governor Otu, in his message delivered by the Commissioner, described the exercise as another practical demonstration of his administration’s strong commitment to agricultural transformation, household food production and economic growth.

“We already know that agriculture remains the backbone of our economy and the primary source of livelihood for thousands of households across the state. This is why our administration continues to invest deliberately in programmes that directly support farmers and strengthen rural communities,” the Governor said.

He noted that the distribution of improved seed yams followed the successful one-week train-the-trainer workshop recently conducted across the state in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), where over 400 yam farmers and agricultural extension officers were trained on yam seed multiplication and modern yam minisett technology.

“This strategic capacity-building initiative was designed to equip our farmers and extension agents with practical knowledge on rapid seed yam production, improved agronomic practices and disease management techniques. The state government subsequently took delivery of eight metric tonnes of improved seed yam varieties to support the programme,” he added.

The Governor further explained that the minisett technology would create a rapid multiplication system capable of guaranteeing more seed yams, healthier planting materials, increased productivity and faster income generation for farmers.
“Seed yam remains the most expensive input in yam production, accounting for between 25 and 60 percent of total production costs. Studies have shown that the use of certified seed yam alone can boost farmers’ income by up to 40 percent. Our goal is to position Cross River as a major player in yam production, processing and seed yam commercialization in Nigeria,” he emphasized.