Agriculture
‘Nigeria To Lead Cocoa Producers In 10 Years’
The Executive Director, Conservative Alliance, (CA) Ghana, Yaw Osei-Owusu has predicted that in the next 10 years, Nigeria will be the largest producer of Cocoa in the world, with the right incentives in place.
Osei-Owusu who was speaking in Abuja at a one-day workshop on “greening the cocoa industry” organised by Global Environmental Facility and Rainforest Alliance, declared that once the right motion was set and fully put in place, the sky would be the stepping stone of the country in cocoa production.
He gave the incentives as training of farmers, support from both private and public, getting the right policies from government as well as the provision of land and also encouraging people to go into cocoa farming.
He explained that currently, Nigeria was the 7th largest producer of cocoa in the world adding that the advantage Nigeria had over Ghana was that while Ghana was producing from six regions, Nigeria was producing from about fourteen states with much more improvement expected in the nearest future.
He therefore enjoined African leaders to show more commitment in the production of cocoa by protecting the forest as the crop accounts for over 70 per cent of the region’s income.
In her remarks, the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafa said for the great increment for cocoa production to occur in Nigeria, the forest must be adequately protected against any form of pollution.
Represented by the Director, JEF Operations Focal Point, Mr. Olabisi Jaji said only about 35% per cent of cocoa production in West Africa occurs under good agro-forestry systems.
According to him, “a recent base-line study showed that our region had experienced significant forest loss through the extractive practices of timber and expansion of the cocoa industry by promotion of zero cocoa production system.
These have gradually led to the fragmentation of our forest landscape, loss of wildlife corridors and forest connectivity and degradation of biodiversity and the ecosystem goods and services.
“A prominent consequence of deforestation is on the cocoa industry itself, a significant loss of major soil nutrients and this has been a leading cause of the decline in our cocoa yield”.
She noted that she has observed a trend toward less shade cocoa landscapes that undercut the environmental sustainability of production and biodiversity conservation.
“Several reports have pointed out that in West Africa, only about 35 per cent of cocoa production occurs under good agro-forestry system”, and enjoined the cocoa farmers to ensure that within five years the mainstream market should follow the leading brands example and to accept the challenge to commit to sustainability and integration of biodiversity conservation in the cocoa and chocolate value chains.
“Our vision for cocoa is an industry that empowers the cocoa farmers to thrive alongside suppliers and manufacturers in a way that doesn’t” if happen today. We must all stand ready to work with anybody who shares that goal and look forward to a day when one will say Nigeria is a centre of excellence rings as true for the farmers of the future as it has for generations past”, he stated.
Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, on Wednesday, distributed farm inputs to farmers as part of effort to address food security challenge.
The State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, during the flag-off ceremony of Inputs Redemption Under The National Agricultural Growth Scheme-Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), in Ogun State, disclosed that beneficiaries of the gesture were primarily rice, maize and cassava farmers across the State.
Ayo-Ajayi commended the Ogun State Government for partnering with the government at the centre for the effort in supporting farmers with inputs that would bring about yieldings for local consumption and likely exportation.
She noted that government is supporting rice, cassava and maize farmers with inputs worth N212,000; N189,000 and N186,000 respectively.
The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Kehinde Jokotoye, who represented the Commissioner in the Ministry, Bolu Owotomo, stated that traditional farmers are critical in food production, hence the need to encourage and support them with inputs that would bring about desired results during harvesting.
Owotomo said: “Let us make good use of this opportunity, so that the success of this phase will make farmers benefit more from the state and federal governments of Nigeria.”
Earlier, State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwatoyin Ayo-Ajayi, appreciated the present administration for partnering with the federal government for the initiative, adding that the programme is designed to support farmers at the grassroots level in cassava, rice and maize with inputs such as, seeds, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to boost their production and enhance their livelihood.
The Niger State Government has mapped out 10,000 hectares of farmland in Gbapo Community of Katcha Local Government Area of the State for smallholder farmers to benefit from the state government’s agricultural intervention programme.
Two thousand out of the 10,000 holders of the farmlands have already received inputs.
At a flag-off ceremony in Yinti Village, the facilitator of the programme, Shinkafan Nupe, Malam Idris Usman Makanta, assured the farmers of increased distributions to the mapped-out ten thousand (10,000) farmlands if farmers respond positively.
He explained that the commencement of the two thousand is to measure the positive response of farmers before obtaining full-scale support.
Malam Makanta stated that this initiative aligns with the farmers’ initial commitment through Niger Foods, whose mission is primarily geared towards establishing efficient and profitable agricultural businesses to support the present administration of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s quest to boost agricultural productivity in the state.
He also commended Niger Foods for their steadfastness and resilience in the effective implementation of the input financing scheme.
Makanta reiterated the commitment of the State Governor in making judicious use of the arable land in the state.
Shinkafan Nupe, therefore, urged the farmers to support the Governor by using the inputs wisely so that the dream can be actualised.
The Gombe State Government has empowered a total of 573,429 farmers and entrepreneurs under the 4th phase of the GO-CARES programme.
The programme was officially flagged off by Governor Inuwa Yahaya in another major step towards alleviating poverty and supporting the state’s vulnerable populations.
The Governor, while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko Community of Akko Local Government Area, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Salihu Baba Alkali, who is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee on GO- CARES implementation.
“The 4th phase of GO-CARES will directly and indirectly impact a total of 573,429 citizens across the state. Of these, 152,429 individuals will benefit directly through cash transfers, livelihood grants, agricultural inputs, and operational grants to small businesses”, he stated.
The Governor added that, “421,000 people will be indirect beneficiaries through infrastructural projects such as classroom blocks, healthcare facilities, WASH services, and rural infrastructure projects like culverts and drainages”.
Yahaya, reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind in the state’s development.
According to him, “Earlier this year, on June 25, 2024, we flagged off the distribution of improved seedlings, fertilizers, and herbicides to less privileged farmers in Malam Sidi, Kwami Local Government Area, signaling the commencement of the 4th phase implementation of GO-CARES under Result Area 2”.
The Governor reiterated that these initiatives have had a significant impact on the livelihoods of beneficiaries and the overall agricultural sector.
He explained that, “Today’s ceremony marked the simultaneous launch of activities under all three GO-CARES Result Areas for the 4th phase. These areas include: State Cash Transfer Grants: 2,500 direct beneficiaries; Labour Intensive Public Works: 2,700 direct beneficiaries; Livelihood Grants: 10,000 direct beneficiaries; and Basic Services: 405,000 indirect beneficiaries”.
