Ekiti State government has reiterated its commitment to sustain intervention and engagement with cocoa farmers in a bid to reposition the state as a leading cocoa producing State in the country.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Olabode Adetoyi stated this during the distribution of agro chemicals to representatives of Cocoa Farmers’ Association and Groups in the State.
Dr Adetoyi explained that the gesture was to tackle and control pests and diseases capable of reducing the quality and quantity of cocoa produce in the State.
He added that distribution of the agro chemical to cocoa farmers was to demonstrate the importance the state government attached to cocoa production and food security in the State.
The Commissioner explained that the State government was also passionate about strengthening its partnership with private investors in driving the production of cocoa in the State which informed the allocation of lands to three private investors in the cultivation of more than ten thousand hectares of cocoa in the State.
He commended Governor Fayemi for approving the replacement of aging cocoa trees which resulted in the production of more than 200 thousand seedling of high improved varieties of cocoa, 55 thousand of cashew seedling and 10 thousand of oil palm to drop tree cropping in the State.
Dr. Olabode assured the farmers that the state legislators would ensure the formulation of strict laws against bush burning which had negative impact on cocoa plantation.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Oluwagbenga Odesanmi explained that the agro chemical being distributed was made up of 13,100 sachets of fungicides and 360 litres of insecticide as a pilot test.
Also the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN Ekiti State Chapter, Mr Alagbada Adeniran commended the State government for the support, adding that it would go a long way in ameliorating the challenges of cocoa farmers in combating pest and cocoa related diseases.
