Cocoa farm row sparks feud in Cross River
Ani Bassey
A demonstration cocoa farm on the premises of the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) has become the centre of a public dispute between a former state adviser and the station’s management.
The farm was set up during the tenure of Ntufam Dr. Oscar Ofuka, former Special Adviser to the immediate‑past governor on cocoa development.
Its purpose was to generate revenue for CRBC, specifically to fund diesel purchases that keep the station’s news operations running during frequent power cuts.
In recent weeks Ofuka discovered that personnel allegedly from the Ministry of Agriculture were harvesting cocoa pods by climbing the trees—a method he says damages the plants.
“I am pained to see the farm I developed to boost CRBC’s revenue being mismanaged,” Ofuka said. “Climbing the stems is not proper harvesting and it harms the trees.”
Ofuka argues that the Ministry should provide technical support while CRBC retains oversight, a collaborative approach he believes would protect the farm and its income stream.
CRBC’s General Manager, Sam Nsor, rejected Ofuka’s claims, insisting the former adviser has no authority to comment.
“He is no longer a government appointee and therefore has no right to enter CRBC premises and criticise the farm’s management,” Nsor said.
“Does he hold the position of SA on Cocoa? Does he have any moral right to make statements about my station? No, he does not.”
The clash highlights broader issues of responsibility and coordination between state agencies and public institutions. With both sides holding firm, the dispute remains unresolved, leaving the future of the demonstration farm—and its potential revenue for CRBC—uncertain.
