Agriculture

Cocoa Production to Be Revitalized in Osun

By Web News 235

By Folake Oye

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has promised to revitalize cocoa production in the state to boost its economy.

Senator Adeleke made the promise while speaking at the International Cocoa Conference in Lagos. 

Represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Tola Faseru, Senator Adeleke, who described the importance of cocoa to the diversification of the nation’s economy recalled how Chief Obafemi Awolowo developed the old western region with earnings from cocoa production.

Unveiling the comprehensive agenda of his administration to revitalize cocoa production in the state, Senator Adeleke emphasised that cocoa-producing states have a direct challenge and obligation to introduce new innovations that will help to revive the sector and increase the productivity level of cocoa farmers.

 He emphasized the need to support cocoa farmers and ensure that young farmers enter the sub-sector and collaborate with research institutions such as the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) for new cocoa breed 

Senator Adeleke listed the agenda his administration is implementing to revive cocoa production and enhance the revenue base of the state.

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Environment

Ondo Monarch Leads Protest over Alleged Farmland Sale to Foreigners

By Web News 432

*Govt. Says Quit Notice Fake

Angry farmers in Ilua village in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, weekend staged a mass protest against the alleged sale of their cocoa plantations and other farmlands by the state government to foreign companies.

The protesters were led by the traditional ruler of Ilua, Oba Olalani Ibidapo.

The aggrieved farmers displayed placards with various inscriptions such as ‘This is another Slavery,’ ‘We say no to the destruction of our cocoa farms,’ ‘No Farmers, No Nation’, ‘We don’t want to steal, farming is our job,’ ‘Aketi should not sell our lands to Chinese,’ ‘They should leave us here to farm, we have nowhere to go,’ ‘Cocoa farm is our livelihood, don’t chase us out,’ ‘Cocoa farm is what we live on, don’t sell the lands to China.’

Speaking with newsmen, Oba Ibidapo, said: “There were some people who came to our villages and started erecting signposts that the state government has sold our farmlands and villages to Chinese and Indian companies.

“They said the state government has issued a notice that we should quit our farms and villages because the companies wanted to move in and take over our farms and villages.

“We have been here for over 100 years and we are here farming, no other things. I have more than 19 villages under me and they include Ilua, Laoso, Adejori, Logunofe, Keseomi, Obadore, Obakele, Ilua 2, Kangidi, Oloruntedo, Abayemisi and Magbaralewon among others.

“We are protesting against this policy and we also appeal to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to please consider our situation here.

“But I want the state government to take note that if they insist on ejecting us, there would be a problem. Many of the victims would turn to criminals.”

Also speaking, the chairman, Youths of Laje community, Laoso District, Ondo West, Mr Akinbami Philip said: “We are begging our governor to rescind this policy and order.

“We have graduates who have farms here; we want the government to leave us so that we would continue working on our farms. This is where we feed our families.”

On his part, one of the affected farmers, a graduate of Physics, Ademola Ajibola, told newsmen that he decided to venture into farming when he couldn’t get a job in the city.

Quit notice is fake —Ondo govt

When contacted to comment on the alleged ejection of the farmers, the Senior Special Assistant (Agric and Agribusiness) to the governor, Akin Olotu, denied the allegations.

Olotu said that the state government didn’t issue such quit notice and did not sell farms to anyone or foreign firms.

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Agriculture

Ogun Moves to Redefine Nature of Agric Produce

By Web News 541

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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Agriculture

CRIN Advocates more Investment in Agriculture

By Web News 701

There is a need for Nigerians to invest more in the nation’s agriculture sector to enhance food security.

Director, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN, Ibadan, Dr Patrick Adebola stated this during the ‘2022 In-House Research Review of the institute’.

Dr Adebola said the purpose of reviewing the previous activities of the institute became necessary to chart a new course for the progress of CRIN and address food shortages.

Chairman on the occasion, Professor Moshood Aliyu advised the staff of the institute to ensure their researches are in line with the National and global policies

Professor Aliyu stressed the need for the institute to also give priority to the welfare of staff, and discipline, and attract grants to the institute.

The CRIN Programme leaders on cocoa, cashew, coffee, kolanut and tea while reviewing the research reports of the institute in the previous years, highlighted the importance of training and re-training farmers.

They, however, appealed to concerned authorities to put in place good road networks to enable farmers to get their produce to the consumers.

Farmers at the programme decried incessant attacks on their farmlands and called on the government to provide a conducive environment for them to operate.

The programme had in attendance representatives of other research institutes and stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

The theme of the 2022 In-House Research Review is ‘National Economic Empowerment through Sustainable Research and Development Of Cocoa, Cashew, Coffee, Kola And Tea’.

Olabiyi Fadahunsi

Agriculture

Bureau of Social Services Decries Abandonment of Cocoa Processing Industry in Osun

By Web News 593

The Director-General of the Bureau of Social Services, BSS, Mr Richard Tinubu has condemned the abandonment of the Cocoa Processing Industry Ede by the managing companies.

Inspecting the industry, Mr. Richard Tinubu decried the state of facilities in the industry.

Mr Tinubu said the two companies, that signed MOU with government two years ago had abandoned the industry without any development.

While calling on any serious investment partner with necessary wherewithal to manage the company to signify intention, the

Director-general said it had concluded arrangement to terminate the agreement signed with the two companies.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative and Industry, Osun State, Doctor Bode Olanipekun noted that the ministry would work assiduously to ensure revitalization of the industry.

Doctor Olanipekun noted that the ministry would engage the service of serious companies that would accelerate growth of the industry.

.The team also visited the Free Trade Zone and Dagbolu International Market to examine the level of development at the sites. 

Wasiu Ajadosu