Mr Stephen Ukpukpen, a member of the Cross River House Assembly, says the legislature is determined to permanently resolve the controversies surrounding the allocation of cocoa farms in the state.
Ukpukpen, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Sunday.
The lawmaker said that a permanent resolution of the issues was necessary so that the state could realise its dream to produce 500,000 metric tons of cocoa annually.
He also expressed displeasure over the delay in the commencement of cocoa farming in the state due to the protests arising from alleged irregularities in the allocation of the cocoa farms.
“I am worried but that is why we want to resolve all the lingering issues surrounding the allocations so that farmers can begin production,” he said.
He expressed optimism that in spite of the controversy the state was on course to resuscitate its cocoa estates and reclaim its proper position in cocoa production in the country.
“We are on course to achieve our target of 500,000 metric tons of cocoa annually. We may not plant this year but when we normalise everything, the revolution will begin,” he assured.
Ukpukpen said that a cocoa board would soon be established in the state to ensure the success of the planned revolution in cocoa production.
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