By Ike Uchechukwu, Calabar

Cross River State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu has used the occasion of this year’s annual Leboku International festival to call for concerted efforts to boost food security in the State.

The Governor made the call through his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey who represented him at the 2024 international New Yam Festival with the theme ” Community Mobilization For Sustainable Growth “

Otu acknowledged the deliberate initiative of successive administrations in the state to use the Leboku festival in encouraging food production and showcase the rich cultural endowments of the Yakurr people.

He said: “My administration is poised to sustain the momentum of the event and even surpass its achievements”

“We are delibrate in transitioning from subsistence to mechanized agricultural practice with the procurement of light and heavy duty machinery to enable small farm holders and agricultural entrepreneurs embark on large scale production of rice, cassava, oil palm, cocao and yams to ensure food security in the state,” Gov Otu said.

Earlier, the Obol Lopon of Ugep, HRM, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng who received the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey to his Palace expressed his appreciation and that of the Yakurr nation to the governor and members of the Cross River State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council and other political office holders for gracing the occasion and for the sustained support the Leboku lnternational New Yam Festival and the Yakurr nation as a whole has received.

Highlights of the festival included the presentation of prizes to the winners of the 2024 Mr. Leboku & Miss Leboku Pageant, the best Yam harvester of the year and other consolation prizes.