Kwara gives 50,000 cocoa hybrid to farmers, promises addressing challenges

The Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq has given cocoa farmers 50,000 early maturing hybrid seedlings to galvanize its production just as the Government is determined to address all the challenges facing the crop.

Mallam Abdulrasaq stated this while addressing stakeholders at the last month concluded Annual General meeting of Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) held at Kwara Agro Mall in Ilorin.

The Government who spoke through the State Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi said that the Governor is determined to address basic challenges associated with inputs’ requirement of cocoa farmers towards making the state one of the leading producers and at the same time achieving its sustainability at all the value chains in the country.

According to his Excellency ‘’ this administration has raised 50,000 hybrid cocoa seedlings, which matured in 18 months and this is being promptly distributed to our farmers at affordable prices. This is being done with a view to ensuring prompt and effective rehabilitation and regeneration of the aged cocoa plantation or farms in the state’’

He stated further that ‘’in this fiscal year, we plan to resuscitate the training and retraining of the cocoa farmers, good agricultural practices through the farmers’ field School and farmers’ Business School respectively. This is done with the view to enhancing the quality of the cocoa beans being produced in the state. In addition, we also intend to look into prospects of being able to possibly address extant challenges associated with some of the critical input requirements of cocoa farmers in the state’’

The Governor then enjoined farmers to strictly adhere to the recommended chemicals of the international standard with a view to avert the rejection of cocoa products in the international markets.

Speaking at the event, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs, Adenike Harriet Afolabi-Oshatimehin commended the contributions of the Association to the socio economic development of the State and promised Government’s support and cooperation in ensuring growth and development of the Association.

In his remark, the National Vice President of the Association, Mr. Simon I. Danga appreciated the State Government for providing them enabling environment to operate in the State and pledged the Association’s unalloyed support to the State Government.