By Musa Kutama, Calabar
An agriculture specialist, FarmFusion Tech Ltd has organized training on the art of integrating technology into traditional farming in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The initiative is part of FarmFusion’s broader mission to empower farmers and transform the agricultural sector through technology-driven solutions.
Speaking during the training on Friday, Orok Emmanuel, who is the Chief Executive Officer of FarmFusion Tech Ltd, outlined the company’s key projects, stating that “we intend to revolutionize the agricultural space leveraging on technology-driven solutions.”
He highlighted initiatives such as Project Green 18, designed to bridge the gap between farmers, suppliers and buyers, and FFT Chop Creates, a fresh food delivery service connecting farms directly to consumers.
Emmanuel added that “our e-commerce site is 80% ready, and it will list farmers’ produces so buyers can access farm products at cheaper rates.”
Also, Compt. Safety Ecoma De-Eval, a facilitator at the training, emphasized the importance of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) in agriculture, explaining that “HSE are crucial aspects that ensure the well-being of farmers, community and the environment.”
He detailed some safety measures such as the use of personal protective equipment, machinery safety and sustainable farming practices to promote soil and water conservation.
In his presentation, Emmah Francis from Development Finance Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Calabar Branch, educated participants on agricultural financing, clarifying that while CBN has withdrawn from direct development financing, it supports farmers through the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund.
He explained that “after the farmer has repaid the loan, CBN will refund 40% of the interest as a way of interest drawback,” helping to reduce farming costs.
Frank Arikpo, State Project Manager at the Farmers Data Management Office in the state’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, stressed the need to have accurate data for agricultural development, adding that “government is insisting on having data to reach the real farmers with a view to improving outcomes.”
Arikpo outlined efforts to establish a comprehensive and real-time database of farmers across all value chains in Cross River, regretting that over the years, government’s efforts to boost agricultural production had not yielded desired results because funds earmarked for agricultural development often ended up in the hands of non-farmers.
Improved variety of cowpea seeds were distributed to farmers that attended the training.
