The Cross River State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a technology-driven, transparent and globally competitive agricultural sector through the institutionalisation of the State Agricultural Traceability System.

The government said the initiative is aimed at strengthening investor confidence, enhancing food security, improving market access and positioning Cross River’s agricultural commodities for premium domestic and international markets.

The commitment was reinforced during a high-level strategic meeting in Calabar attended by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey; Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo; Chairman of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, Rt. Hon. Deacon George O’ben-Etchi; Chairman of the Multi-Stakeholder Committee on Cocoa, Coffee and Oil Palm, Prof. Susan Ohen; Director-General of the Cross River Geographic Information Agency (CRGIA), Mr. William Archibong; and officials of Pula Advisors, the implementing partners of the project.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Governor Peter Odey described agriculture as the cornerstone of the state’s economic diversification agenda and reaffirmed Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s commitment to initiatives that deliver measurable socio-economic benefits.

The Pula Advisors delegation was led by Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Thomas Njeru, alongside Commercial Director, Mr. Sukirti Vinayale, and Country Director, Dr. Michael Enahoro.

Dr. Enahoro said the partnership would directly benefit farmers by improving access to finance and premium markets through reliable agricultural data.

“We are proud to support Cross River in building a system that puts farmers first. With verifiable data and traceability, our farmers can now access finance, premium markets and global opportunities that were previously out of reach,” he said.

The meeting reviewed the implementation of the project and developed a transition framework that will gradually transfer the management of the Agricultural Traceability System to the Cross River State Government, ensuring long-term institutional sustainability.

Officials said the initiative is designed to transform Cross River into Nigeria’s leading destination for digitally enabled agriculture by promoting transparency, accountability and internationally accepted traceability standards throughout the agricultural value chain.

The system will provide digital identities for farmers, geo-referenced farm mapping, commodity tracking, production records and value-chain intelligence. It is also expected to improve planning, facilitate access to finance, strengthen food safety compliance, support climate-smart agriculture and expand export opportunities.

Deputy Governor Odey stressed that digital innovation and institutional reforms are critical to attracting investment, expanding internally generated revenue, creating jobs and improving farmers’ livelihoods.

He assured Pula Advisors of the state’s continued support through enabling policies, institutional coordination and sustained commitment to the successful implementation of the project.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, described the traceability system as a strategic governance tool that would improve data integrity, strengthen farmer inclusion, enhance commodity competitiveness and boost investor confidence.

He disclosed that Cross River has achieved compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), positioning the state ahead of many sub-national governments in meeting international market requirements.

“Traceability is no longer optional; it is becoming an indispensable requirement in modern agriculture as global markets continue to demand greater transparency, sustainability and product authenticity,” he said.

Ebokpo added that the initiative would strengthen Cross River’s competitiveness in regional and international markets while supporting the state’s vision of building a modern, climate-smart and investment-friendly agricultural economy.

Pula Advisors Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Njeru, commended the Cross River State Government for its commitment to digital agricultural transformation and expressed confidence in the state’s ability to sustain the programme through local ownership and institutional capacity development.

He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Cross River through technical expertise and knowledge transfer to ensure the long-term success of the initiative.

Officials said the collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, the Forestry Commission, CRGIA and international partners would drive innovation, strengthen agricultural governance and promote economic growth.

They added that the institutionalisation of the Agricultural Traceability System aligns with Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s People First Agenda by promoting technology-driven agriculture, enhancing export opportunities, improving food security and creating sustainable wealth for the people of Cross River State.