The Kwara State Government has commenced the distribution of 10,000 improved cocoa seedlings to farmers across cocoa-producing Local Government Areas in the state.
The seedlings, allocated to Kwara by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN, are improved planting materials capable of producing their first fruits within 18 months.
The seedlings are expected to support the establishment of new cocoa farms while helping farmers replace ageing and less productive trees.
The Supervising Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, flagged off the distribution during an inauguration ceremony held recently in Owa Kajola, Isin Local Government Area.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Funke Sokoya, the Commissioner reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to providing farmers with quality planting materials to boost cocoa production.
She urged beneficiaries to adopt recommended agronomic practices and properly care for the seedlings after planting to ensure healthy growth and improved yields.
Mrs. Thomas said the initiative aligns with the administration of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the state’s 10-Year Agricultural Transformation Plan, which focuses on strengthening crop production, market access and agricultural value chains.
She further assured farmers that the government would continue to collaborate with relevant institutions and farmer associations to address challenges facing the cocoa sector.
In her remarks, the Chairman of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, CAN, Kwara State Chapter, Mrs. Maccarthy Funmilayo Omoyemisi, commended the state government for the initiative.
She called for sustained collaboration between the government and farmer associations to further develop the cocoa industry in Kwara State.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Cocoa Industry Farmers Association of Nigeria, CIFAN, Kwara State Chapter, Mr. Oloyede Ezekiel, appreciated the government for the intervention, describing the distribution as timely.
He said the improved seedlings would enable farmers to rehabilitate ageing plantations and establish healthier cocoa trees, thereby creating a stronger foundation for future harvests.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Abolaji Kareem expressed appreciation to the Kwara State Government and CRIN, saying the intervention would help farmers improve their farms and strengthen their livelihoods.
The event brought together cocoa farmers from the state’s cocoa-producing Local Government Areas, representatives of CAN and CIFAN and other stakeholders across the cocoa value chain.
Also present on the Commissioner’s delegation were the Director of Agricultural Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hajia Hafsat Hussein and the Deputy Director of Agricultural Services, Mr. Aliyu Mohammed, among other officials.
