‘Cocoa production remains top priority’
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, stated this at a cocoa stakeholders Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) implementation meeting held at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan recently. GES is a scheme that allows government get farm inputs to farmers through contact via mobile phones.The permanent secretary noted with satisfaction […]
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, stated this at a cocoa stakeholders Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) implementation meeting held at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan recently. GES is a scheme that allows government get farm inputs to farmers through contact via mobile phones.
The permanent secretary noted with satisfaction that statistical report released by the Federal Produce Inspection Service for 2013 showed a significant increase in cocoa production from 300,000 metric tonnes to 350,000 metric tonnes, which she said, excluded a provisional 3.6 million hybrid cocoa pods meant for distribution to farmers within 2015 – 2016 cocoa years.
Represented by the Director, Engineering and Mechanisation, Engr. Mudasiru Akeju, Mrs. Odusote disclosed that part of the objectives of the meeting was to appraise developments in the 2014 Cocoa inputs (GES) roll-out and identify opportunities and challenges facing the cocoa economy.
Earlier, the Team Leader, Cocoa Value Chain, Transformation Agenda, Dr. Peter Aikpokpodion, expressed delight that cocoa product is commanding high premium at the international market capable of complementing the nation’s engine of growth and building a strong and virile economy less dependent on crude oil revenue.
The Vice President, Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), Chief Adesokan Lasun, advocated for operational modification in the farm inputs’ distribution network by critical stakeholders in the cocoa sector to realise the overall objectives of the federal government’s cocoa transformation effort.