Building inclusive growth in South West via cocoa production

From Centre: Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, (Second Left) Minister of State for Agriculture, Mrs. Asabe Asmau Ahmed, (Second Right) Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, Commissioners For Agriculture Ogun State, Mrs. Ronke Sokefun (R), Commissioner For Agriculture Lagos State, Mr. Bola Lawal (R), Commissioner For Agriculture Ekiti State, Mr. Jide Arowosafe (R), DG DAWN, Mr. Dipo Famakinwa (L), SA to Osun State Governor, Mr. Agunbiade Festus (L) and Commissioner For Agriculture Oyo State, Mr. Ambali Ahmed (L) at the DAWN meeting in Abuja.

Building inclusive growth in South West via cocoa production  

It is no longer new that agriculture is the most viable sector capable of ending scourge of poverty in the country and the African states. The sector accounts for about 75 percent index as best source of employment generation. It is widely described as a sector the African states had forgone at the expense of oil.
Ivory Coast is the world highest grower of cocoa with about 1 million metric tons (mt) per annum, followed by Ghana producing between 900, 000 mt and 950, 000 mt, Cameroun and Nigeria which currently produces below 320, 000 metric tons per annum.

According to Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), cocoa production has made the country world fourth largest producer of the commodity. The nation’s production increased to about 28 percent as at 2013. Records as produced by the association placed increase in local production of the commodity to about 320, 000 mt from 250, 000 mt per year. 
“Although Nigeria is experiencing a consistent rise, it is not faring well when placed side by side with the other West African countries that produces cocoa. So even if we are fourth in the world, we are producing less than half of what they are producing,” Robo Adhuze, spokesperson of CAN had stated.
Reports has it that the highest record before now was recorded in 1970/1971 harvest season when the country produced about 300, 000 metric tons.
The Minister of Agriculture and rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina speaking on the global acceptance of cocoa also disclosed that about 78 per cent of global cocoa plantation is produced by four countries; Nigeria, Cameroun, Ghana and Ivory Coast.  

In the beginning

The Federal Government, at the commencement of the President Goodluck Jonathan led administration had in 2011 pledged to increase the nation’s cocoa production and restore lost glory of the sector. The sector under leadership of the Minister of Agriculture rolled out plans to boost local production of the commodity to about 500, 000 mt by 2015 through the Cocoa Value-Chain. The gesture was part of the president’s Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA).
In order to consolidate on this idea, the Minister launched the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) Scheme where farmers were supported with farm inputs such as seeds, fertilizers as well as mechanisation. Adesina reminded the participants of the ministry’s feat. He said the ministry was able to end corruption of 40 years in 90 days in fertiliser distribution in the country.        
Salvaging the situation through partnership with DAWN
During a meeting with Commissioners for Agriculture and Rural Development of Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Lagos and Oyo State last week in Abuja, Adesina said with the nation’s land mass of about 84 million hectares, the country has the potential to drive an inclusive growth and build the nation.
The commissioners were in Abuja under the auspices of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN). Director General of DAWN, Dipo Famakinwa who led the delegation said the visit was to seek partnership with the Federal Government especially on agriculture in order to develop the western states.
Adesina during the meeting had traced the importance of agriculture to early years of the late nationalist, Chief Obafemi Awolowo where the late philosopher initiated the widely applauded farm settlement project in the western region but was abandoned due to the advent of oil. 
“If governments in the southwest can revitalise the farm settlements, it will be of great advantage to the people. The state governors should prioritise this and revive the vision of the late leader,” he said.  
The commissioners were anxious about improving on the GES to further capture farmers in the state. 
While rolling out supports the states have benefited especially from the GES scheme in 2013, Adesina said 94, 728 farmers got subsidized inputs in Ekiti; 15, 898 farmers benefited in Lagos; 11, 346 farmers in Osun; 18, 449 farmers in Ondo and 95, 483 farmers got the inputs in Oyo state.
According to the Minister, a total of 254, 100 farmers benefited from the scheme in the South West.
Adesina thereafter called for the establishment of Cocoa Investment Trust Fund (CITF) such that industrial processing of the commodity can be encouraged in the south west region. The initiative is expected to create jobs, increase cocoa farmers’ income, create value as well as boost the nation’s overall cocoa production.  For successful implementation, the federal government will counterpart whatever the state and private sector mobilised for the trust. 
“This region is important in cocoa production. That is why the President directed us to distribute about 3.5 million high yielding seeds to the farmers and 74, 664 cocoa farmers have registered for the seeds in the south west states.
“The seeds produce five times of yields and it matured within two and half years instead of normal five or six years. In fact, about 8.5 million pods have been distributed free to all farmers. So I am encouraging the south west governors to go into partnerships with the private sector and develop Cocoa Investment Trust Fund so as to boost production of this commodity.”      
Earlier, a Special Assistant to the Osun State Governor, Mr. Agunbiade Festus tasked the Minister to improve on the provision of incentives to farmers especially women and youths in the state. According to him, the State has already key into the ATA of the Federal Government but he called for mutual integration in order to achieve joint success.
Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Bola Lawal described the trust fund as one capable of realising the states development goal. He also spoke on incentives for the farmers, supports on irrigation farming, land clearing as well as provision of warehouse facilities for perishable farm items produced in the state.  
Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Jide Arowosafe said the Trust is vital to foster development of agenda of states in the region. 
“It is a wonderful agenda that will drive development not just for the cocoa sector in Nigeria but the entire economy. It will help in getting used to cocoa production, processing and the state government getting used to the platform to lock into global market.”
Arowosafe urged the federal government to hasten completion of the Strategic Grain Reserves sited in the State. He said it was slowing down agricultural activities in the state. But the Minister responded that the silo project was one of the largest in the country with 100, 000 metric tons capacity, which will be completed before end of the year.
It is expected that with strong partnership with DAWN and political will from respective state governments, agriculture produce will witness new shape especially, cocoa production in the south west states.