When Liyel Imoukhuede assumed office as Special Adviser on Livestock Development to the Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, three months ago, he inherited a sector with enormous potential but limited structure.
By Ashie Osor
One hundred days later, the conversation in the state is gradually shifting from whether Cross River has the livestock resources to how cattle, poultry, dairy and feed production can be transformed into jobs, income and greater food security.
“The first 100 days have been about laying the foundation,” Imoukhuede said in a statement marking the milestone, noting that the state came into the administration with a clear understanding that its livestock potential was enormous.
He said potential alone could not create jobs, income or food security, stressing that the sector must be organised, financed, commercialised and connected to markets.
That approach has largely defined the adviser’s early tenure, with emphasis placed on assessment, consultation, planning and the development of a structured framework for the sector.
According to the Office of the Special Adviser, the past 100 days have seen livestock development move from a broad policy idea towards what officials describe as a structured agenda.
The process began with an assessment of the sector, as teams commenced documentation of livestock production systems, infrastructure, assets, value chains and the challenges confronting farmers across the 18 local government areas of the state.
At the same time, the office commenced the development of the Cross River Livestock Development Roadmap 2027 to 2033, a seven year plan expected to provide direction for breeding, feed production, processing, logistics, marketing and exports.
“We have engaged farmers, producers, investors, academia, development partners and government institutions,” Imoukhuede said.
“We have begun the development of the Cross River Livestock Development Roadmap 2027 to 2033, while identifying opportunities that can attract investment into the state,” he added.
The stakeholder engagement has involved government agencies, cooperatives, private sector operators, universities and development partners, with the objective of ensuring that policies are informed by realities on farms and within existing markets.
The office has also strengthened collaboration with the Federal Ministry responsible for livestock development in an effort to position Cross River to benefit from national programmes and funding opportunities.
One of the programmes receiving attention is the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, known as L P R E S. The state has continued efforts to strengthen its institutional readiness and participation in the programme.
Strategic livestock assets, including Calachika, Songhai and the Obudu cattle and dairy corridor, have also come under review, with attention focused on their functionality, sustainability and potential economic value.
The office has equally begun mapping investment opportunities across cattle production, dairy, poultry, feed production, meat processing, cold chain infrastructure, honey, breeding, livestock markets and agro industrial clusters.
Another major component of the emerging strategy is private sector participation. The office is developing frameworks for public private partnerships, joint ventures, concessions and other commercial arrangements capable of attracting private capital into the sector.
Imoukhuede said the administration was also working to change the perception of livestock from simply being an animal production activity to a complete economic value chain involving feed, genetics, veterinary services, processing, logistics, finance and exports.
Livestock has historically been treated largely as a secondary agricultural activity in Cross River, despite growing demand for meat, milk, eggs and other animal products across the South South region and beyond.
The new approach seeks to capture more of the economic value generated by the sector within the state by strengthening production while developing the infrastructure and businesses required to support the entire value chain.
“We want to see more animals produced, more milk and meat processed, more poultry enterprises established, more young people and women entering the sector, more private capital coming into Cross River and more value created within the state,” Imoukhuede said.
The emphasis on young people and women is expected to broaden participation in the sector beyond traditional livestock farming and backyard poultry production.
The strategy also places emphasis on cold chain and processing infrastructure, areas that could help producers reduce post production losses and improve their earnings by moving beyond the sale of raw products.
With the foundation phase largely focused on assessment, consultation and policy development, the next stage is expected to shift towards implementation.
The office has indicated that priority will be given to projects capable of creating jobs while establishing infrastructure that can support long term growth, including feed mills, modern abattoirs and aggregation markets connected to efficient transportation systems.
“Our ambition is simple: to build a livestock economy that works for the farmer, creates opportunities for our people and makes Cross River a destination for livestock investment,” Imoukhuede stated.
For a state widely recognised for sectors such as tourism, cocoa and timber, the emerging livestock strategy represents an attempt to establish another economic pillar capable of contributing to food security, rural incomes, employment and industrial growth.
As the Cross River Livestock Development Roadmap 2027 to 2033 takes shape, attention will now turn to whether the foundation laid during the first 100 days will translate into bankable projects, investment partnerships, increased production and measurable economic benefits for farmers and residents across the state.
The next phase will therefore be critical for farmers waiting for improved access to inputs and markets, investors seeking viable opportunities and young people looking for new avenues to build sustainable livelihoods in Cross River State.
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