The Acting Chairman of Cross River Cocoa Management Board, Dr Oscar Ofuka, said on Tuesday that the state was ready to crush 120,000 metric tonnes of cocoa beans annually.
Ofuka told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar that the new cocoa processing plant established by the state government at Ikom would boost its cocoa revolution.
“The establishment of an ultra modern cocoa processing plant in Ikom Local Government Area means that Cross River will be crushing 120,000 metric tonnes of cocoa annually.
“With 98 per cent of the installation completed, Gov. Ben Ayade has demonstrated his commitment in making Cross River the number one cocoa producing state in the country.
“In fact, the challenge before us now is how to get more cocoa beans to feed the industry.
“That is why we are expanding the search for lands across the state to plant cocoa and increase our production output,” he said.
Ofuka, who said the ecology of the entire state supported cocoa production, commended the governor for establishing a cocoa board for the first time in the history of the state.
This, he said, would help in realising government’s dream of making cocoa the mainstay of the state’s economy.
