July 31, (THEWILL) – The Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) has opened a multi-million naira Cocoa House in Ikom, the commercial nerve city of Cross River State.
The edifice was constructed by some stakeholders in the industry and it will help to accommodate businessmen and women visiting the state.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River, Alphonsus Eba Ogar, inaugurated the building on behalf of Governor Ben Ayade.
Ogar lauded the state branch of CAN for its developmental stride.
The Chairman of CAN in the state, Ejor Obi, said the association was fully prepared to increase the production of cocoa in the state.
The Vice-President, Cross River/ Akwa Ibom and Rivers Zone of CAN and Chairman LOC, Godwin Okwu, described the guest house as a well thought-out facility that was topmost on agenda of the association.
Okwu said the current cocoa economy in the state was operating at less than 40 per cent of its capacity at the farm level, less than 50 per cent in marketing and 0 per cent in manufacturing.
He said that the Cross River cocoa economy had the potential to sustain the state’s economy.
The association appealed to the Cross River State Government to provide 20 hectares of land, specifically at a government-owned estate in Effray so as to enable the association raise a cocoa seed garden and a demonstration farm.
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THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
