Kwara govt begins distribution of 10,000 improved cocoa seedlings

The Kwara State Government has begun distributing 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, according to the state government.

The distribution was flagged off at Owa Kajola in Isin Local Government Area by the Supervising Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Funke Sokoya.

Thomas said the initiative was part of the state government’s efforts to provide farmers with quality planting materials and support the renewal of ageing or less productive cocoa plantations.

She urged beneficiaries to follow recommended agronomic practices and properly manage the seedlings after planting to ensure healthy growth and improved yields.

The commissioner said the intervention aligned with the state’s 10-Year Agricultural Transformation Plan, which seeks to strengthen crop production, market access and agricultural value chains.

She added that the government would continue to work with relevant institutions and farmer associations to address challenges facing the cocoa sector.

The Chairman of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kwara State chapter, Mrs Maccarthy Funmilayo Omoyemisi, commended the initiative and called for sustained collaboration between government and farmer associations.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Cocoa Industry Farmers Association of Nigeria (CIFAN), Kwara State chapter, Mr Oloyede Ezekiel, described the distribution as timely, saying the seedlings would help farmers renew their plantations and establish healthier trees.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Abolaji Kareem thanked the state government and CRIN, saying the intervention would help farmers improve their farms and strengthen their livelihoods.

The distribution brought together cocoa farmers from the state’s cocoa-producing local government areas, representatives of CAN and CIFAN, and other stakeholders in the cocoa val