Project Grow convened key actors across the agricultural market system for its End-of-Year Annual Meeting and 2026 Co-Creation Workshop, an engagement designed to strengthen agribusiness resilience, improve value chain competitiveness, and co-develop sustainable pathways for agricultural growth in Cross River State. Held in Calabar, the workshop brought together public sector leaders, private sector partners, development agencies, financial institutions, aggregators, processors, extension agents, and service providers, all working collectively to transform agricultural productivity and enterprise performance across the state.
The event recorded the presence of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo; the Commissioner for MIDC, Dr. Hippolatus Lukpata; The Accountant General of the state Dr. (Mrs.) Glory Effiong and the Commissioner for Local Government, Chief Felix Idem, represented by Mrs. Carolyne Asuquo, Permanent Secretary. Other dignitaries included the Senior Special Adviser on Cassava, Venerable Augustine Asuquo; the Senior Special Adviser on Tree Crops, Mr. Effa Fidelis Edem; the State Coordinator of the National Directorate of Employment, Dr. J. B. Erieyovwe; the Director of Livestock, Mrs. Glory Ekpenyong; the Chairman of the Cocoa, Coffee, and Oil Palm Committee, Prof. Susan Ohen; the Vice Chairman, Prof. Damien Agom; ETG Country rep; Mr. Goodluck Ogu, CALCCIMA Vice President for Agriculture, Mrs. Ann Christabel Nduibisi; and CALCCIMA Vice President MSMEs Biz, Mr. Liyel Imoukuede. Representatives from UNHCR, CRADP, CRGIA, Zenith Bank, FCMB, Sterling Bank, NIRSAL PLC, Project Grow Aggregators, Input Companies, and various media houses were also in attendance, reflecting a truly multisectoral engagement.
Delivering the welcome address, Project Director Mr. Denis Ikpali reaffirmed Project Grow’s commitment to strengthening a resilient, inclusive, and market-driven agricultural system capable of enabling smallholder farmers and agribusinesses to thrive. According to him, “Project Grow remains committed to building a resilient market system that will support every key player across different value chains and strengthen agribusiness competitiveness across Cross River State.”
Commending the initiative, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo described Project Grow as “the most veritable vehicle from which we can unlock all the opportunities within the agricultural sector,” emphasizing the programme’s catalytic role in market transformation.
Representing the Commissioner for Local Government, Mrs. Carolyne Asuquo highlighted the ministry’s commitment to deepening collaboration with Project Grow. She noted ongoing processes to expand sector-specific training in commercial agriculture as well as input supply initiatives that provide farmers with seedlings, tools, and other essential production inputs designed to improve productivity and strengthen production systems. From a broader development standpoint, Prof. Damien Agom underscored the importance of the workshop as a platform for reflection and shared action. He described the gathering as an opportunity for stakeholders to review processes, identify systemic constraints, and collectively design forward-looking solutions that can enhance value chain performance across the state.
Private sector engagement remained a major highlight as ETG country rep. reaffirmed its long-term partnership with Project Grow and expressed readiness to explore new investment opportunities in Cross River State, including a potential urea plants and other agribusiness centre of excellence that will improve input availability, reduce logistics gaps, and reinforce supply chain sustainability.
Also speaking, the Accountant General of Cross River State, Dr. (Mrs.) Glory Effiong, called on citizens and rural farmers to embrace the initiative, stating that “Project Grow is a project that every Cross Riverian should key into,” in recognition of its transformational potential.
The meeting featured two technical presentations: the 2025 Project Progress Report presented by the Agribusiness Manager, Dr. Peter Obuo, and the 2026 Implementation Plan delivered by the Credit Manager, Mr. Bassey Asuquo. The presentations highlighted achievements in market facilitation, enterprise upgrading, farmer resilience, financial inclusion, and partnerships, while also addressing operational constraints, lessons learned, and strategic priorities required to consolidate gains in the coming year.
Participants later engaged in co-creation sessions where thematic groups examined the 2025 performance overview, emerging challenges, market constraints, and the structural issues affecting farmer productivity and enterprise sustainability. Discussions were organized along the project’s major pillars; Aggregators, Mechanization Services, Extension Services, Production and Inputs, Financial Institutions, and Agribusiness Development. Each group generated practical recommendations which were harmonized into a unified 2026 Market Systems Roadmap aimed at unlocking efficiencies, strengthening value chain linkages, scaling access to finance, and promoting inclusive agricultural growth.
The workshop closed with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to deepen collaboration, de-risk smallholder participation in agricultural markets, enhance agribusiness viability, and position Cross River State as a leading model for agricultural transformation, market systems development, and sustainable value chain strengthening.
