CRS Homestead Farming Programme

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BISHOP MRS EYOANWAN BASSEY EDET OTU, THE FIRST LADY OF CROSS RIVER STATE!

On behalf of Cross River State homestead farming programme, we celebrate you today with deep honor and appreciation. Your support, compassion, and steadfast commitment to agriculture and food security are making a remarkable difference in the lives of our people.

As the State Advisory Committee Chairman of the Cross River State Homestead Farming Programme, you continue to inspire farmers, empower households, and strengthen practical agricultural development across the state. Your leadership is not only guiding the programme, it is planting hope, promoting self-reliance, and advancing the growth of sustainable food systems.

May the Almighty bless you with long life, good health, wisdom, and abundant grace, We pray that this new age brings you more wins, more strength, and more opportunities to impact positively on Cross River State and beyond.

Congratulations and Happy Birthday Big Mummy.

Chief Nwogu Alban N
State Project Officer
HSFP, CRS.

CROSS RIVER HOMESTEAD FARMING PROGRAMME TRAINS ENUMERATORS FOR BASELINE SURVEY


As part of preparations for the baseline survey of the Homestead Farming Programme, the Programme Consultant, Prof. Damian Agom, in collaboration with Project Implementation Unit (PIU) staff and other experts, conducted training for enumerators who will carry out the survey across the State.

In his opening remarks, the State Project Officer, Chief Nwogu Alban N., explained that the training was designed to equip enumerators with the necessary technical skills and ethical guidelines required for effective fieldwork. He urged participants to maintain professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their duties.

Delivering a goodwill message at the training, the State Statistician General, Mrs. Akedo Okoi Edet, emphasized the importance of accurate data collection and encouraged the enumerators to carry out their responsibilities with diligence and a strong sense of patriotism.

The eight-hour training session covered key areas such as coordinate data collection and the use of GPS devices, which are essential for the successful ex*****on of the survey. Participants actively engaged in the session, asking questions which were addressed by the Programme Consultant and other facilitators.

Following the training, the enumerators have proceed to the field to commence data collection in 7 Local Government Areas of the southern senatorial district including Calabar Municipal, Calabar South, Odukpani, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo Bakasi and Biase for the first phasevof the activities in line with the guidelines provided. The data collected will be collated, analyzed by the Programme Consultant and result submitted.

Upon submission of report, the HSFP will start profiling farmers and start implementation immediately.

Ovat Lawrence, Ph.D
ICT/Comm Officer,HSFP

You are all invited

HOMESTEAD FARMING PROGRAM OFFICIALS MEET STATE STATISTICIAN GENERAL, AGREE ON EFFECTIVE BASELINE SURVEY METHODOLOGY

BY OVAT LAWRENCE
ICT/COMM OFFICER

Officials of the Cross River State Homestead Farming Programme have met with the Office of the State Statistician General to agree on effective strategies for conducting a baseline survey for the programme.

The delegation, led by the State Programme Officer (SPO), Chief Nwogu Alban, and the programme consultant, Prof. Damian Agom, visited the office to deliberate on appropriate methodologies that would ensure accurate and timely data collection for the initiative.

Speaking during the meeting, Chief Nwogu emphasized the need to address issues earlier identified in a previous engagement, particularly challenges related to community listing arising from limited funding and time constraints, which could affect the effectiveness of baseline survey activities.

To address these challenges, he proposed the adoption of alternative survey methodologies, including the snowball sampling approach, to enhance efficiency and improve coverage.

In his response, the representative of the State Statistician General, Assistant Director Mr. Wilson Obaeko, sought clarification on other possible methods that could be considered.

Contributing to the discussion, the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer, Mr. Joseph Uyannah, recommended the snowball sampling method, describing it as both cost-effective and time-saving.
Supporting this position, Prof. Damian Agom provided further insights into the approach, explaining that its adoption would enable faster and smoother data collection.

After extensive deliberations, both parties agreed to adopt the snowball sampling method for the baseline survey.
Programme officials were also tasked with exploring effective strategies for community sensitization and stakeholder engagement to ensure improved programme outcomes.

The meeting followed a similar engagement held two weeks earlier, where initial challenges were identified. The latest discussion served to fine-tune earlier deliberations and pave the way for the proper implementation of the baseline survey.

CROSS RIVER STATE HOMESTEAD FARMING PROGRAMME COLLABORATES WITH THE OFFICE OF THE STATISTICIAN GENERAL ON NPC VISIT

By Ovat Lawrence
ICT/Comm officer, HSFP.

In a bid to tackle food and feed security challenges, the Cross River State Homestead Farming Program is accelerating its efforts by initiating baseline survey activities. To ensure effective implementation, the program's management has begun engaging with key stakeholders.

Recently, Mr. Nwogu Alban N., the state Program Officer, along with the state Statistician General, visited Mr. Stanley Itam, the State Director of the National Population Commission (NPC), to discuss the upcoming baseline survey activities planned by the Cross River State Homestead Farming Program.

During the meeting, the State Program Officer provided an overview of the homestead farming initiative and presented the organizational structure, which includes her Excellency, Bishop Mrs. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, as the Chair of the State Advisory Committee and the Commissioner overseeing the program. He further informed Mr. Itam about the receipt of seeds from the FAO, noting that activities will begin once the baseline survey is completed.

In response, NPC Director Mr. Stanley Itam emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach, which should include a listing of households in both urban and suburban areas before the survey can begin. He highlighted that this listing is crucial for ensuring the smooth ex*****on of baseline activities.

Mr. Stanley Itam provided clarification on the definitions of urban and suburban regions, stating that a community is considered urbanized when its population exceeds 20,000. He expressed his commitment to supporting the program's vision.

Additionally, State Statistician General Mrs. Akedo Okoi Edet pledged her full cooperation to ensure the successful implementation of the program.