Ibadan – The Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan, is collaborating with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and FEG-Agro Ijebu Ijesa, Osun to distribute 10 million improved cocoa seedlings to some youth farmers.
The institute’s Assistant Director, Dr Abiodun Adedeji, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Wednesday that the collaboration would also involve the training of staff of farm settlements belonging to the youth farmers.
Adedeji said other areas of partnership would include supplying of improved planting materials and providing technical supports for the success of the settlements.
Adedeji, who is also the institute’s Head of Cocoa Research Department, said the collaboration would also help to increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and create employment.
“The Ooni’s project involves the production of 10 million cocoa seedlings to be distributed to youth farmers in Ile-Ife and its neighbouring towns for economic empowerment.
“We are working on the production to meet up the target as the Ooni plans to establish a production farm in Ile-Ife using our developed products; we shall train his staff and provide technical supports regularly.
“The nursery aspect of the project has started and between July and September, and the institute will have produced about one million seedlings to be transferred to the field,” Adedeji.
The institute’s Senior Research Officer, Dr Busayo Famuyiwa, said that empowerment project would provide job opportunities for no fewer than 500 youths.
“Some 2,222 seedlings will be distributed to each youth that they will plant on two hectares of land.
“He hopes that the youths will earn about $6,000 per annum in four years when the plan matures.
“He is, at present, sponsoring the production of the seedlings,” Famuyiwa said. (NAN)
