The IFAD-funded Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) programme has intensified efforts in Cross River State to connect farmers and agribusiness beneficiaries with buyers in a bid to improve market access and boost profitability.
This was disclosed during a high-level policy dialogue held in Calabar on Monday, where stakeholders gathered to address challenges affecting the marketing of key agricultural commodities.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Johnson Ebokpo, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Odey Ikongha, described the initiative as important for strengthening agricultural value chains and improving market systems in the state.
He noted that agriculture remains vital to food security, job creation, and economic development, but raised concerns over weak market structures and limited connections between producers and buyers, which he said continue to affect farmers’ earnings.
Ebokpo urged stakeholders to focus on issues such as logistics, pricing, quality standards, and access to finance, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to reforms that would strengthen the sector.
The National Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Abiodun Sanni, represented by Enterprise Development Specialist Amosun Yinka, identified poor market linkage as a major challenge affecting agribusiness sustainability under the project.
He explained that without guaranteed market access, farmers struggle with profitability and are discouraged from attracting investment and financial support.
Sanni stressed the importance of identifying market demand before production, describing it as key to building sustainable agribusiness enterprises focused on crops such as cassava, rice, oil palm, plantain, cocoa, poultry, and aquaculture.
In his remarks, the Cross River State Coordinator of the project, Innocent Ogbin, said the programme was designed to empower women and youths through agricultural enterprise development, but acknowledged that marketing remains a major constraint.
He said the engagement was convened to bring together banks, buyers, producers, input suppliers, and consultants to develop stronger partnerships and improve market outcomes for beneficiaries.
One of the participants, Miriam Okon, who transitioned from trainee to trainer under the aquaculture component of the project, expressed appreciation to both federal and state authorities for the initiative, noting that it has created employment opportunities for young people.
She also called for the continuation of the programme to enable more youths and women to benefit from its interventions.
The session ended with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between beneficiaries and off-takers aimed at strengthening commercial linkages and improving market access for participants.