The Cross River Agricultural Development Programme has assured farmers in the state this season of a bumper harvest.

The Cross River North Coordinator of the programme, Mark Ewa, said this during an interview on Sunday in Ogoja.

The coordinator attributed the expectant bumper harvest to the provision of input and implements to farmers by the Federal and State Government.

He said that the season’s experience had been quite different from others where the farmers had to rely solely on their own ingenuity to provide for themselves.

“It has been quite an experience for farmers this season in terms of farm input. We are particularly appreciative of the fact that the Federal Government remembered us by providing fertilisers to farmers.

“In Cross River North, I was in charge of the distribution and I ensured equitable sharing of the six trucks of MPK fertiliser that came to the zone to the five council areas.

“While we have been told to expect the urea type, we are also grateful to Governor Bassey Otu who has also tried to assist farmers in his own way. With this assistance and sufficient rainfall, farmers, particularly those in Northern Cross River, are expecting bumper harvest. We expect crops such as rice, soya beans, cowpea, Cassava and yam to do well this season,” he said.

Calling on the state government for more assistance in the area of land preparation, extension services and irrigation farming, Mr Ewa said the governor would revolutionise rice production in the state with his programme.

The ADP coordinator said that the weather condition of Cross River North was one that demanded the use of irrigation to provide sufficient water for crops to do well.

He said that the dearth of extension agents had not made it possible for farmers to acquire new knowledge or technique on farming.

According to him, at present, there are less than 10 extension agents available to farmers in Cross River North caused mainly by the retirement of workers without replacement.

“This situation has resulted in having a ratio of one extension agent to 5000 farmers, instead of one agent to 80 farmers. This inadequacy has not made it possible for farmers to get the requisite training that will lead to profitable harvest for them,’’ he said.

(NAN)