Former Special Adviser to the immediate past Governor of Cross River State on Cocoa Development and Control, Ntufam Dr. Oscar Ofuka, has raised the alarm over what he described as mismanagement of demonstration cocoa farm located at the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) in Calabar.
Ofuka raised the alarm in Calabar after a visit to the CRBC demonstration farm where he found a group of young men climbing cocoa trees harvesting the pods with bare hands without making use of farm implements.
The farm, established during Ofuka’s tenure, was meant to generate revenue for CRBC radio and television station, specifically to fund diesel procurement.
However, Ofuka discovered that individuals, allegedly from the Ministry of Agriculture, were climbing the the cocoa stems harvesting cocoa pods with their bare hands, an act Ofuka claimed was a taboo.
Ofuka who alleged that the farm was being mismanaged said, “The farm is a seed garden basically for raising of nursery and distribution of free seedlings to farmers in Cross River South Senatorial district.
“Climbing cocoa trees to harvest pods with bare hands is unprofessional and a taboo. The effect of this is that the trees would be gradually killed, with thousands of fresh cocoa pods destroyed in the process.
“The farm is not only for CRBC, but for the state to expand cocoa development in the South.
“The station must keep a proper record of the yield for easy assessment of the yield every year. It is not for gold diggers”, Ofuka maintained.
Ofuka averred that he established the farm to assist the station addressed the frequent power outage suffered by the CRBC, which disrupted news broadcasts stressing the nasty development promoted him to worked with the then-management of CRBC to establish the farm, solely to boost the station’s revenue.
“I am pained to see the farm being mismanaged,” Ofuka said. “It’s wrong to climb cocoa stems to harvest pods. That’s not how you harvest cocoa, and it’s damaging the plants.”
Ofuka believes the two entities, the state ministry of Agriculture and the CRBC management should fashion out a modality to work together, with the Ministry providing technical expertise to manage the farm.
“The farm is for the support of CRBC, not for personal gain or for the benefit of the Ministry of Agriculture,” he emphasized.
“I urge them to work together to ensure the farm is properly managed and fulfills its original purpose.” He advised.
Reacting to the issue, General Manager (GM), Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC), Mr. Sam Nsor said, “I do not want to join issues with Ofuka. Ofuka is not an appointed of government and has no moral justification to make derogatory comments about anything that is in CRBC.
” I come from a place where elders are respected, otherwise I would have make comments that will disrespect him.”. He should maintain his space please.”. Nsor advised.
