The Ondo State government says it has concluded arrangements to establish a single largest cocoa estate in Africa on 2,000 hectares of cocoa plantation at Ijugbere, in Owo Local Government area.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Adegboyega Adefarati, who disclosed this on Thursday in Akure at a media briefing, said it was a deliberate plan to further grow the cocoa industry in the state.

He said that government had embarked on giving free cocoa seedlings to farmers so that the state could regain its lost glory in cocoa production and for the farmers to understand the premium placed on agriculture by government.

Adefarati said that this had led to the expansion of farm settlements, improvement in farmers’ yields and repositioning of Ondo as the Number One cocoa producing state in Nigeria.

“The present administration commenced free distribution of improved cocoa seedlings across the state in 2018, with over 400,000 seedlings and it has distributed over 250,000 cocoa seedlings and thousands of oil palm, coconut and kolanut seedlings this year.

The commissioner expressed the state government’s commitment to boosting agricultural activities and encouraging youths to embrace agriculture.

He said government had concluded plans to commence the production of over 500,000 improved cocoa seedlings, 50,0000 cashew seedlings, 40,0000 oil palm seedlings, 10,0000 coconut seedlings and 5,000 kolanut seedlings.

Adefarati further disclosed that government had also commenced replacing old cocoa trees, with long gestation period, with improved seedlings.

The commissioner commended Governor Akeredolu for giving most of t agricultural sector deserved attention.

According to him, rehabilitation is already ongoing at the Sunshine Fisheries Farm, with an annual production capacity of five million juveniles, which had been abandoned for more than 11 years.

Adefarati also said that the hitherto moribund Akure semi-automated abattoir had been resuscitated and was now operational with full workforce.

According to him, statistics shows that not less than 70 cows are being slaughtered daily at the abattoir, aside other related auxiliary profit-oriented services which the facility is rendering to meat consumers.

He said farmer’s registration was ongoing in government reserves and farm settlements across the state to ensure wholesome agricultural practices and guide against encroachments.

Aside creating an enabling environment to have near accurate data of farmers in government reserves, the commissioner said that the exercise would also increase revenue generation from the farm settlements.

Source: https://www.von.gov.ng/ondo-to-build-africas-largest-cocoa-estate/

He should invest in an agriculture school or institute.

Governor Akeredolu has been investing in all that sector you have mentioned and even beyond, check the news and update yourself abut Akeredolu's innovations thus far.

budaatum:
He should invest in an agriculture school or institute.