OCOA Farmers, under the aegis of Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria [CFAN], have lamented the nonavailability of fungicides to control the spread of pods and other diseases affecting cocoa farms around the country. Speaking to newsmen in Akure, Ondo State, the farmers said it was pathetic that their farms are being destroyed by heavy rainfall, and called on the Federal Government to assist them in solving the problem. Southwest particularly Ondo state is the largest producer of Cocoa in the country. The statement, signed by Adeola Adegoke and Joseph Ayodele, CFAN National Secretary and Southwest Vice President respectively, said cocoa farmers across the country ought to have sprayed their cocoa pods with fungicides, but regretted that the agro-chemicals are not available. The statement reads: ”We are crying out to the Federal Government, through its Ministry of Agriculture, on the imminent losses we will record on cocoa production this year if urgent action is not taken on the immediate take-off of the Growth Enhancement Scheme [GES] programme in all cocoa producing states. We do not have agro-chemicals to spray our cocoa trees and pods due to the delay in the implementation of GES in all the cocoa belt in Nigeria.” The group also urged the Minister for Agriculture to urgently include cocoa boost fertilizer in the GES programme, adding that the action will revitalize the aging cocoa trees for higher production. The cocoa farmers also noted that cocoa, which used to be the major foreign income earner for the country in the past, had been relegated to the background because of crude oil exploitation.
Tag: Cocoa farmers
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Cocoa farmers attack Ministry over solo pumps
Cocoa farmers have protested the non-inclusion of solo pumps in the procurement notice advertised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The farmers noted that solo pumps are effective, easier to manage, last longer and are environmentally friendly.
According to Evangelist Joshua Oyedele, farmer and Vice President, Cocoa Association of Nigeria in Ondo/Ekiti states zone, more than 90 per cent of the cocoa farmers use solo pumps.
He said the pump affords its users to target spray cocoa pods and disease spots on cocoa plants.
He added that most cocoa trees in Nigeria were tall and the solo pump was the right spray equipment for achieving effective and efficient coverage of the plants.
Ntufam Odi Ayangba, a farmer in Effraya in Cross River State stated that as an old cocoa farmer, he was not able to carry the 15-litre knapsack sprayer because of the weight.
He said most cocoa farmers are old and cannot carry the knapsack sprayers.
In his response, President of Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Mr Sayina Riman, said he had engaged the ministry’ s officials on the need to correct the anomaly without any positive response.
He argued that officials were not conversant with farmers actual needs and were therefore unable to provide for them.
Riman said lack of consultations with stakeholders caused this oversight, adding that over the years, various equipment and materials purchased for agriculture were left to rot because they were not required by those who were supposed to use them.
The president expressed disappointment with the ministry for refusing to listen to the proposed users and procuring what they dont need.
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Cocoa farmers laud Oyo
The Chairman, Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) in Oyo State, Mr Joel Ojediji, has praised the government for providing 800,000 cocoa seedlings to farmers.
Ojediji, who spoke in Ibadan ,the state capital, said the farmers needed more seedlings.
According to him, farmers had initially asked for 1.5 million seedlings.
He said that farmers’ demand became necessary following the monitoring by officials of the state Ministry of Agriculture, who inspected the nurseries and found them to be up to standard.
He said :“We will proceed to transplant seedlings from the nurseries to our farms in the month of May.”
The chairman said the 800,000 cocoa seedlings were provided free of charge by the government to the farmers through the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN).
He said from all indications, he could predict a bumper cocoa harvest at the end of the cropping season.
While praising the Federal Government’s agriculture policy, the chairman said : “The Agricultural Transformation Agenda in the area of cocoa has been highly successful.”
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Cocoa farmers laud Oyo
The Chairman, Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) in Oyo State, Mr Joel Ojediji, has praised the government for providing 800,000 cocoa seedlings to farmers.
Ojediji, who spoke in Ibadan ,the state capital, said the farmers needed more seedlings.
According to him, farmers had initially asked for 1.5 million seedlings.
He said that farmers’ demand became necessary following the monitoring by officials of the state Ministry of Agriculture, who inspected the nurseries and found them to be up to standard.
He said :“We will proceed to transplant seedlings from the nurseries to our farms in the month of May.”
The chairman said the 800,000 cocoa seedlings were provided free of charge by the government to the farmers through the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN).
He said from all indications, he could predict a bumper cocoa harvest at the end of the cropping season.
While praising the Federal Government’s agriculture policy, the chairman said : “The Agricultural Transformation Agenda in the area of cocoa has been highly successful.”