Sen. Otu receives report on Cross River State Soil mapping, fertility survey

…says major reforms are ongoing in agric sector

Oru Leonard 

Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu has disclosed that his administration is driving a major reform in the agriculture sub- sector of the state.

This is contained in a press release made available to News Dot Africa by the
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nsa Gill on March 14, 2024

Governor Otu who spoke in his office Wednesday, when he received the report of the committee set up by his administration to get the digital soil mapping and fertility survey of the state also expressed gladness that the committee has discovered a total of 27 soil types in the state.

He emphasized that the ongoing reforms in the agriculture sector is such that was last witnessed in the days of late Michael Okpara of the defunct South Eastern states where agriculture was a huge revenue earner for Government.
He thanked the Committee for the good work they have done, adding that the report will help farmers and investors to invest wisely in the agriculture sector.

“A farmer can now know the fertility level and soil suitable for the crop type they want to plant.” The
Governor expressed satisfaction that the Lead consultant in digital soil survey in Nigeria, Prof Miriam Queendalyn Solomon, was part of the team, saying that the next step is for the state ICT team, to develop a portal after the receipt of the report and attach the functionalities in the portal before launching the website and App.

Earlier, the Lead Consultant Prof Miriam Queendalyn Solomon informed that the team was in the state to present the report of the soil survey of the state, the fertility results as well as fertilizers recommendations for the 27 different soils found in Cross River.
“There are approximately about 27 soil types in Cross River State and all of them have fertility and status all over the state.

“This is how the soil will be cultivated by the farmers over the years and with what we have done, the fertility and the fertilizer recommendation will go to the farmers to improve their production of food.
It would be recalled that the Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, had in October last year, commissioned the exercise which comprised soil technologists and experts in Nigeria, directed to take samples in 900 points across the state, a development that was achieved within a month before proceeding to Kenya for laboratory analysis.

Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Mr. Johnson Ebekpo Jnr. was in attendance at the presentation meeting.