OSOGBO – Alhaji Raheem Adeniji, the national president of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), on Tuesday identified funding as the major problem facing cocoa production in the country.
Adeniji told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo that cocoa farmers needed financial assistance from the federal and state governments to increase their production.
“Cocoa farmers are struggling to make sure that they produce and they need governments’ assistance to keep going and increase production,” he said.
He said a farmer would need more than N100, 000 to clear an hectare of cocoa farmland, aside from the purchase of chemicals, fertiliser, labour and hiring of tractors.
He stated that the Osun Government had been assisting cocoa farmers in the state by providing farmers with free cocoa seedlings.
“The state government gave cocoa farmers 17, 000 seedlings free of charge this year in a bid to boost cocoa production and output.
“This is a laudable effort because it will help the farmers and also enable the state to maintain its third position among cocoa producing states in the country, but we still need more assistance,” he said.
He thanked the state government for supporting farmers in the state, but said more assistant was needed from both the state and federal governments in terms of finance in order to boost cocoa production. (NAN)
Cocoa farming needs funding from government – CFAN National president
Loading...
