Cross River State has launched a statewide Training of Trainers (TOT) programme under Project Grow to strengthen soybean production and prepare farmers for large-scale cultivation ahead of the 2026 wet season farming cycle.
The programme, which is being implemented in partnership with Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, is designed to build technical capacity across the soybean value chain by equipping agricultural extension personnel and lead farmers with practical knowledge that can be transferred to farming communities across the state.
The training commenced in Calabar and is scheduled to continue in Yakurr and Obanliku Local Government Areas, covering the three senatorial districts of the state. Participants include extension agents, ministry desk officers, agricultural officers, lead farmers and other stakeholders who will serve as knowledge multipliers under the project’s step-down training model.
The sessions combine classroom learning with field demonstrations, giving participants hands-on exposure to soybean production practices and agronomic standards required to achieve higher yields and quality output.
Speaking during the programme, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, said the state government remains committed to transforming agriculture into a commercially viable sector capable of driving economic growth and improving livelihoods.
He noted that soybean production under Project Grow would not be restricted to commercial-scale farmers alone, stressing that smallholder farmers would also be integrated into the programme to ensure wider participation and greater impact.
According to him, the initiative is expected to strengthen food security, create employment opportunities and stimulate economic activities through access to reliable markets for agricultural produce.
The Project Director of Project Grow, Mr. Denis Ikpali, described the training as a critical component of the project’s implementation strategy and disclosed that the programme is targeting the cultivation of 1,000 hectares of soybeans during the 2026 wet season.
He said the investment is aimed at increasing soybean production across Cross River State while creating jobs, boosting farmer incomes and strengthening the agricultural economy.
“Training extension agents and lead farmers is essential to ensuring that the technical knowledge required for successful soybean cultivation reaches farming communities across the state,” Ikpali said.
He further revealed that Project Grow has secured a major offtake agreement with Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc covering 2,000 tonnes of soybeans and 20,000 tonnes of maize valued at about ₦18 billion.
According to him, the agreement provides farmers with a guaranteed market for their produce, helping to reduce marketing uncertainties and encouraging greater investment in production.
Technical sessions during the training were facilitated by the Regional Value Chain Head of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Kolawole O. Amonsou, who provided practical guidance covering the entire soybean production cycle.
Participants were trained on land preparation, planting techniques, crop management and harvesting practices required for optimum productivity. He also highlighted key agronomic recommendations, including planting soybean seeds at a depth of three centimetres and placing fertiliser five centimetres beside the seed and two centimetres deeper to improve nutrient uptake and maximise yield performance.
With the state targeting 1,000 hectares of soybean cultivation in 2026 and a guaranteed market already secured through a major offtake agreement, Project Grow is positioning soybean production as a key component of Cross River’s agricultural development strategy. The initiative also aligns with the agricultural transformation agenda of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, whose administration continues to promote investments aimed at strengthening food production, job creation and sustainable economic growth across the state.
