Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Cross River state, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo Jnr.
By Ita Williams, Calabar
In a significant move to future-proof its agricultural economy, Cross River State has officially commenced a statewide digital traceability programme for its vital cocoa, coffee, and oil palm sectors.
The initiative, announced by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, aims to provide end-to-end visibility of these commodities from farm to port.
“This programme is strategic and necessary to protect livelihoods, sustain export opportunities, and secure the future of our agricultural economy,” Ebokpo stated this in his office at weekend in Calabar during a press conference.
The programme is a direct response to stringent new international regulations, most notably the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which requires proof that imported goods are not linked to forest destruction.
Ebokpo warned that without verifiable geolocation data, local farmers risk being locked out of lucrative markets.
“The global market landscape is evolving rapidly,” he explained. “Major importing regions now require verifiable proof that agricultural commodities are not linked to deforestation or illegal production.”
Central to the programme’s launch is the engagement of PULA Advisors as lead consultant and a collaborative framework involving several state agencies.
The Cross River State Geographic Information Agency and the Forestry Commission are providing critical foundational data, including baseline forest cover maps.
“Without credible baseline information, traceability cannot commence,” Ebokpo stressed, noting that the government is prepared to amend policies if the data reveals regulatory gaps.
Officials were keen to reassure farmers that the system is designed to empower, not punish them.
“Let me emphasize clearly that this Traceability Programme is supportive and non-punitive,” the Commissioner said.
“It is not designed to sanction farmers, but to strengthen their competitiveness and protect their market access.”
The process will involve registering and digitally mapping farms, as well as documenting all actors in the supply chain, from cooperatives to exporters.
Implementation will roll out through extensive community engagement, using local language messaging, radio, and town criers to ensure understanding and cooperation.
“Effective traceability depends on inclusive participation and shared ownership,” Ebokpo noted, calling on traditional institutions, local governments, and media houses to support mobilization.
Through the initiative, the state aims to achieve high awareness and registration rates across producing local government areas.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Bette Obi, was acknowledged for his active role in the programme’s development over the past year.
Ebokpo also expressed gratitude for technical support from partners like the UN FAO and Lutheran World Relief, while calling for expanded collaborations. “We are setting the pace,” he declared, positioning Cross River as a potential national model.
Meanwhile the initiative has garnered broad support of the state government.
