The Cross River government promotes agricultural traceability to stimulate investment, exports and security

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

The initiative, according to the government, is designed to strengthen investor confidence, increase food security, improve market access and position Cross River agricultural products for premium domestic and international markets.

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

Present were the Deputy Governor of Cross River dtate, Rt. Hon. Pietro Odey. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, KSM; the Chairman/CEO of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, Rt. Hon. Deacon George O’ben-Etchi, PhD, FCIA; the President of the Multi-Stakeholder Committee on Cocoa, Coffee and Palm Oil, 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 at the meeting, the Deputy Governor, Odey, described agriculture as the cornerstone of Cross River State’s economic diversification program and reaffirmed the commitment of the administration led by the Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, to initiatives that generate measurable socio-economic impact.

The Pula Advisors delegation was led by its co-founder and CEO, Thomas Njeru, and included Commercial Director, Sukirti Vinayale, and Country Director, Dr. Michael Enahoro.

Pula Regional Director Dr. Michael Enahoro also said that the partnership will directly help farmers.

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

The commitment was part of a comprehensive review of progress in the implementation of the project and the development of a sustainable transition framework that will progressively transfer 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 integrating digital traceability into 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 farm to market, is guided 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 to farmers, geo-referenced mapping of farms, commodity tracking, production records and value chain information.

In addition to strengthening policy planning and 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 key to building a resilient agricultural economy that can attract investments, expand internally generated revenues, create sustainable employment and improve the livelihoods of farmers across the State.

The deputy governor also assured the delegation of consultants from Pula of the state government’s unwavering support, promising the necessary political direction, institutional coordination and enabling environment needed to ensure the successful transition and long-term sustainability of the agricultural traceability system.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, KSM, reaffirmed the industry’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, stressing that it is a strategic governance tool that will redefine agricultural governance in Cross River State by improving data integrity, strengthening farmer inclusion, improving commodity competitiveness and increasing the confidence of investors and development partners.

The Commissioner further revealed that Cross River State is now compliant with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), placing 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, especially as global markets continue to demand greater product transparency, sustainability and 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-friendly and investment-friendly agricultural economy.

Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Pula Advisors, Thomas Njeru, has commended the Cross River State Government for its visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to digital agricultural transformation.

He recognized 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 ability to consolidate the results already achieved and reiterated Pula Advisors’ commitment to supporting Cross River through the transfer and cross-pollination of technical expertise, knowledge and institutional capacity needed to sustain the project beyond its implementation phase.

The meeting further underlined the strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, the Forestry Commission, CRGIA and international technical partners in providing innovative solutions capable of transforming agriculture into an important 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, greater value chain transparency and globally competitive agricultural production.

The initiative is in line with Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s People First agenda and reinforces the ministry’s commitment to harnessing technology, innovation and strategic partnerships to build a resilient agricultural sector that creates wealth, expands export opportunities, ensures food security and improves the quality of life of all Cross River residents.