Ogun State Government says it will continue to engage the relevant stakeholders in adopting new strategies towards improving the quality and quantity of agricultural produce in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Adeola Odedina stated this at the opening of a Pre-Season Training for Cocoa Farmers at Area J4 in Ijebu East Local Government Area in the state.
Dr Odedina said the move would help to strengthen economic diversification while improving the well-being of farmers and others involved in the agricultural value chain process.
The Commissioner highlighted the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges posed by the unwholesome activities of those he described as mischievous stakeholders and the attendant adverse effects on ensuring the standard quality of agricultural produce.
Dr Odedina expressed optimism that resolving the rift between cocoa farmers in government-reserved forests and officials of the supervising ministry would put an end to the destruction of cash crops in the forests and boost the profit margin for the merchants as well as revenue into the government’s coffers.
In a remark, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Dotun Sorunke said farmers and other value chain stakeholders were being trained on the need to improve the quality and quantity of their yield to meet the international standard while 100,000 new improved cocoa seedlings were supplied to farmers across the state free of charge as part of efforts to encourage reposition the industry.
Earlier, the state Chairmen, of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Chief Sesan Sowunmi and that of the Cocoa Farmers Association, Apostle Solomon Williams, had applauded the training programme and advised members to adopt best agricultural practices in the cultivation and processing of cocoa for enhanced performance.
Olatunji Idowu
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