Cross River Flags Off 2026 Wet Season Farming with High-Yield Input Distribution

The Cross River State Government has officially commenced its 2026 wet season farming cycle, unveiling an aggressive input distribution strategy aimed at tackling high production costs for local smallholders.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Calabar, Governor Bassey Otu announced the immediate distribution of disease-resistant, high-yield seed yams to farmers across all 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs). The initiative seeks to alleviate the financial burden on farmers, as seedling procurement traditionally consumes between 25% to 60% of total yam production budgets in the region.

To ensure the sustainability of the program, the state has finalized a technical partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The collaboration focuses on introducing "minisett technology"—a specialized propagation method that allows small seed pieces to produce full-sized tubers, multiplying seed availability while reducing upfront costs.

State officials noted that the partnership is designed to transform Cross River into a leading commercial hub for high-quality yam seeds across the South-South geopolitical zone, enhancing regional food security as the wet season gathers momentum.