By Abasi ItaÂ
The Cross River State Government has launched a comprehensive statewide traceability programme for cocoa, coffee and oil palm, becoming the first state in Nigeria to implement a technology driven system designed to protect export markets and meet global sustainability benchmarks.
The initiative was unveiled at the Cross River Geographic Information Agency in Calabar by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo. He explained that the programme offers full visibility of agricultural commodities from farm to market and aligns with both national policies and international regulations, particularly the European Union Deforestation Regulation, which requires proof that farm produce exported to Europe is not linked to deforestation.
Ebokpo credited Governor Bassey Edet Otu for championing the reform under his People First agenda. He noted that a Multi Stakeholder Committee set up by the governor recommended the adoption of a digital traceability system as part of a seven year strategic development plan for cocoa and oil palm, alongside a coffee development roadmap.
According to the commissioner, PULA Advisors has been engaged as Lead Consultant to drive compliance and implementation under the European Union framework. He added that Cross River aims to establish a model that could guide the development of a national traceability system in the future.
Under the new system, farms will be mapped using GPS polygon technology, farmers and other value chain actors will be registered, and production activities tracked through secure data management platforms. About 300 trained field agents are to be deployed across the state to support the rollout.
Ebokpo emphasized that the programme is designed to support farmers rather than penalize them. However, he cautioned that failure to comply with geolocation and environmental data requirements could result in exclusion from premium international markets. He further disclosed plans to integrate the platform with private sector systems and extend traceability to other sensitive commodities such as timber, cattle and soybeans.
Country Director of PULA Advisors, Dr. Mike Enahoro, described the initiative as transformative, stating that real time data analytics would improve yield forecasting, enable targeted interventions and enhance farmer protection.
Director General of the Cross River Geographic Information Agency, Mr. William Archibong, assured stakeholders that all spatial data generated under the programme would be securely stored within the agency’s geospatial infrastructure to guarantee transparency and data integrity.
Providing economic context, the Statistician General of the state, Mrs. Akedor Okoi Edet, disclosed that agriculture accounts for N4.19 trillion out of the state’s N8.18 trillion gross domestic product, representing 51.29 per cent. Despite this contribution, she noted that the sector’s growth rate of 13.50 per cent still trails that of industry and services. She described the traceability initiative as a shift toward reliable data capable of guiding policy decisions, investment planning and value chain development.
Chairperson of the Multi Stakeholder Committee, Prof. Susan Ohen, said the system would digitally profile farmers, strengthen sustainability compliance and enhance access to premium markets, describing it as both an economic and governance reform.
The government said implementation would include statewide sensitization campaigns using local languages, radio programmes, digital platforms and extension services. Cooperatives, women and youth groups, commodity associations, traditional institutions and relevant ministries, departments and agencies are expected to participate actively.
Development partners supporting the initiative include the Food and Agriculture Organization, Lutheran World Relief, TRACE and UK Propcom Plus.