Cross River State has set aside the sum of N500 million as loan to farmers in preparation for post-covid-19 era.The state governor, Senator Ben Ayade, disclosed this in Calabar at the inauguration of input distribution to farmers as part of palliatives against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ayade, who said this in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Christian Ita, declared that “Cross River State has made a choice of agro-industrialization and the project pathway is organically connected with a kind of syntax that allows you enjoy the pleasure of the income stream that we have provided by making available a five per cent interest loan for all farmers in Cross River State by leaving the sum of N500 million with the Cross River Microfinance Bank.”
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Ayade has described farming as a veritable leeway to prosperity, urging Cross River people, especially women, to go into farming. Ayade said: “Let me use this opportunity to say it very loud and clear that the future prosperity lies with farmers. If you don’t have a farm, you have no business in the 21st century.

“The post-COVID-19 pandemic has become very clear that only farmers have the capacity to survive even if all the doors are closed, and so I challenge everyone of you to own a farm and to show me indeed that your farm is working.

Minister of Agriculture, Alhaji, Sabo Nanono, disclosed that the ministry was frantically working to ensure that Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in food production.

“This gathering is one of our efforts to work hand-in hand with state governments and other relevant stakeholders to assist in ensuring food security, economic growth and job creation, especially in the face of COVID-19 Pandemic,” he said.
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