In a bid to reposition Ekiti as a cocoa-producing powerhouse, Ekiti state governor Biodun Oyebanji has taken strategic steps to improve cocoa productivity and strengthen access to global markets.
The Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade disclosed this while outlining the State Government’s ongoing interventions in the cocoa value chain. According to him, the plan is to grow a sustainable, profitable and globally competitive cocoa economy for Ekiti.
He said the state has distributed over 50,000 subsidized cocoa seedlings to both new and existing farmers in the state.
“We have distributed cocoa seedlings to the new and existing farmers in the state and their will be increase in the distribution as the rains stabilize,” Boluwade said.
He noted that the government is offering up to 50% subsidy on the seedlings, a deliberate move to ease the burden on farmers and encourage more people, especially the youth, to take interest in cocoa farming.
“To consolidate on this, the State is also expanding its nursery capacity to accommodate half a million seedlings over the next two years.
Beyond the seedlings, farmers are also benefitting from free land clearing, access to agrochemicals and insecticides at half the cost, and clustering into groups for hands-on training in Best Agronomic Practices.”
Boluwade said a major innovation currently underway is the development of a seedlings tracker under the TRACE Project, an initiative supported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The digital tool will help farmers track the health and progress of their cocoa crops from planting to harvest.
He also noted the bid is also to combat deforestation and align with international trade requirements.
“Ekiti is also working closely with the Forestry Commission to implement the Land Use Land Cover (LULC) mapping system. This is in response to the European Union Deforestation Regulations (EUDR), which set sustainability and traceability standards for agricultural products entering the EU market.
“The EU remains the largest consumer and processor of cocoa into chocolate, and we’re positioning our farmers to meet those standards,” the Commissioner said.
In what could become a game-changer for local cocoa producers, the government is already in advanced discussions with top cocoa exporters to establish nucleus farms, out-grower schemes, and cocoa processing plants that will produce cocoa butter, flour, and liquor products right here in Ekiti.
“This transcends mere agriculture; it embodies economic transformation, employment, and innovation. We take pride in spearheading this cocoa renaissance from Ekiti,” Boluwade added.