Cocoa Farming: Osun Farmers to Get Agro-Chemicals, Farm Implements

It its bid to ensure food security and make farming easier, the Osun state government has promised to supply farmers in the state with all necessary qualitative agro-chemicals and farm implements needed to boost agricultural products in order to earn more income.

The Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice Chairman, Osun Produce Board, Dr. Yemi Adegoke stated this at a stakeholders meeting with Osun Cocoa Merchants and Farmers held in Osogbo, at the weekend.

Adegoke assured the farmers that the board would order for agro-chemicals and farm implements of quality standard in bulk and give to farmers at cheaper rates to improve qualitative and quantitative farm produce.

According to Adegoke, the board is saddled with the responsibilities of increasing farmers’ income through improved farm products and ensures massive food production in the State.

He added that the board has been working assiduously to link farmers with available market to sell their farm produce easily and make more profit from their farming businesses without hitches.

Adegoke stressed further that the common practice of cocoa grading and haulage cannot improve the quantity of cocoa production but through the provision of high yielding and improved seedlings.

The CEO appealed to cocoa merchants in the state to cooperate with theboard to forestall illegal export of cocoa out of the state and imbibe the habit of using Osun cocoa branding bags introduced by the board for grading and export purposes.

Responding on behalf of Cocoa Farmers Association in the state, Chief Bola Otunla and Alhaji Raji Opejin expressed satisfaction with the policy of the state government to alleviate the suffering of cocoa farmers through the establishment of the board and introduction of Osun Cocoa Branding Bags.

They disclosed that with the 21 standard cocoa companies in Nigeria, there is no need for the Federal Government to allow foreign cocoa export.