Iloke Egbe - MIDC
The Cross River State Government in collaboration with International Development Partners operating in Agricultural sector for the promotion of Cocoa, Oil Palm, Coffee value chain and Forest landscape restoration has held it's first Multi-Stakeholder's Workshop aimed at bringing everyone in one table to agree on the protocol that will best serve the international community and the home fronts where the produce are cultivated.
The workshop held at Metropolitan Hotel Calabar was to enable the funders of Folur-IP which operates only in Cross River and Ondo States to meet with other stakeholders from the 2 States and Federal Government officials. Declaring the workshop open the Secretary to the Cross River State Government Prof. Anthony Owan Enor informed that the Government is ready to support the work of development partners by creating the needed environment and is opening 6 additional new plantations in different locations as away of empowering her citizens to participate actively in economic Programmes.
According to Mr Enor the Government have invested so much in crop productions like Cocoa, Oil Palm and Coffee more than any State in the Nigeria and the State is hopeful that in the nearest future the South South region of Nigeria will be known for Agriculture than oil. He acknowledged that Cocoa and Palm Oil are gotten in commercials quality from the State, transported to other States and rebranded for export . That Cross River State produces Cocoa more than Ondo, Ogun and Oyo States but benefit very little in comparison, stating that His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu is ready to change the narrative and used the occasion to thank the project funders, national and State project management committees and all stakeholders at all strata.
In his welcome address, the Commissioner Ministry of International Donor Coordination Elder Hippolatus Ogar Lukpata expressed a sense of excitement stating that a reflection on the four components of the project indicate that the project is structured by design to leave or have a lasting positive impact on the people and the environment. That this has enhanced the acceptance and participation of the stakeholders at the 8 Local Government and beyond.
In his words, let me draw your attention to one of the silent pillars of the success of this project which is the organization of small farm holders that will be given land title documents which will enable them have access to funding from financial institutions to improve their farming activities. This is very fundamental and revolutionary to the progress of farmers in the State mostly the Cocoa, Oil Palm with the inclusion of Coffee, adding that the State Government is very happy with the performance and commitment of the national and State management team.
He acknowledged that the project by design have consciously mainstream gender participation and has organized many training workshops to different segments of farmers through clusters using the farmers field schools model. This is wonderful and again I commend stakeholders for the design of the project and the national and State management committees. That worthy of note is the knowledge Management Monitoring and Evaluation strategy which is meant to communicate progress, challenges and prospects of the project to stakeholders timely and regularly.
The Participatory Informed Landscape Approach PILA first Multi-Stakeholder's Workshop is in support of FAO GEF7 Folur-IP Nigeria Project to promote Integrated Landscape Management and Sustainable Food Systems in the Niger-Delta.
The workshop featured paper presentations which includes integrated landscape assessments, summary of results from geospatial analysis, followed by restoration opportunities. Innovative solutions forum, presentation on climate smart solutions for Cocoa, oil palm and forestry by NIFOR, CRIN, Olam, Tulip Cocoa and Agro perfect solution. Others are Synthesis of desktop review on enabling environment for Integrated Landscape Management and Agroecology. Participatory interpretation of PILA-TAPE results and PILA behavior change assessment. Developing a common vision of the desire future landscape.
The event also featured technical sessions on visual narratives group work, visual narrative in response to peer review and participatory visioning outcomes. Also there was high level policy discussions on facilitating inclusive titling of customary rights of occupancy of farmland by Local Government Areas. The EU Regulations on Deforestation free products and discussions on mainstreaming EUDR compliance in Nigeria.
Other highlights include breakout sessions, group work and presentations. Questions and answers, group photograph, adoption of Communique from resolutions reached and a vote of thanks by Folur-IP national project Coordinator, Prof. Oladapo Akinyemi.
Dignitaries in attendance were the project National Chief Technical Advisor Prof. Adebayo Shittu, Across section of members of the CR, State Executive Council, chairmen from the 8 LGA in Cross River State, representatives from Federal Ministry of Environment, representative of the Deji of Akure in Ondo State, chairman CRS Council of Chiefs, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, president CFAN and OPGAN, representative of FAONG, the 2 State Coordinators from Cross River and Ondo States, CBN. NGO's, etc.
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