FG tasks cocoa farmers on GES registration

In order to sustain production capacity targeted by the Federal Government in cocoa value chain and to realise its goal on cocoa-based Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has tasked cocoa farmers on proper registration in the FG-sponsored Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES).

It also discloses that about 3,137 cocoa farmers would benefit from the Federal Government interventions on cocoa under the 2013 GES exercise, urging cocoa farmers to adopt and use best practices as applicable under international standards in the application of agro-inputs for bumper harvests.

Speaking during the official roll-out of the GES programme held at the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) secretariat at Atake-Obo, Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state, Akinwunmi Adesina, minister, agriculture and rural development, lamented low turn-out of farmers in the 2012 GES registration exercise.

Adesina, represented by Olumuyiwa Adesina, state director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, disclosed that out of 129,620 total number of farmers registered during the 2012 registration exercise, Ogun State was among other several states that recorded low number of farmers registered under GES registration exercise.

He therefore implored farmers, who are yet to register, to do same and take advantage of interventions available in the agric sector of the economy as being provided for farmers all over the 36 states and FCT by both the federal and state governments.

Also speaking on significance of GES registration to farmers, Ronke Sokefun, Ogun State commissioner for agriculture, emphasised that only farmers registered under the Farmers’ National Data-Base Registration Exercise were entitled to herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers at 50 percent subsidy.

Sokefun, represented by Lanre Bisiriyu, permanent secretary, ministry of agriculture, said: “Under the GES programme for cocoa for 2013, a farmer is entitled to 100 sachets of any of the fungicides of his/her choice out of Champ DP, Fungiran, Ridomil Gold or Ultimax Plus, two bags of cocoa fertiliser (Teractive) and 25 sachets of insecticides (Actara).

“Only farmers who registered under the Farmers’ National Data Base will however benefit from the programme. Those who are yet to register should please contact local government offices, their wards, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Ogun State Agriculture Development Programme (OGADEP) or Tree Crops and Produce Departments of the Ministry of Agriculture.”

She revealed that cocoa farmers who registered in 2012 benefited 200 sachets of fungicide, five bags of NPK 20:10:10 fertiliser and 5 kilograms of Agrolyser and 50 sachets of insecticide at 50 percent subsidy, adding that the initiatives had enhanced cocoa production output, resulting in increased revenue generation to both government and stakeholders along the value chain.

But, Ibikunle Onasanya, the state GES co-ordinator, affirmed that government was committed to creating enabling environment for the development of agriculture, especially in Ogun State with climate and vegetation favourable for cultivation of both food and cash crops.

Meanwhile, cocoa farmers in Ogun State have been warned to desist from destroying forest trees in government reserves for the establishment or replacement of the cocoa plantations.

Sounding the warning, the commissioner for agriculture, who disclosed that though, government was committed to the growth of cocoa and livelihood of stakeholders along the value chain, declared that it would not however condone wanton destruction of forest trees, vital for environmental protection and revenue generation in the state.

Just as Olusesan Sowunmi, the state Ccairman, Cocoa Association of Nigeria, while warning farmers to desist from the destruction of economic trees and establishment of cocoa plantations in the forest reserves, appealed to government for the provision of agriculture land for the establishment of cocoa plantations outside government forest reserves.

Sowunmi, who assured government that farmers would embrace best practices as applicable in the international standards and guidelines for cocoa farming and production, urged the state to provide access roads to cocoa producing communities in the state.

By: RAZAQ AYINLA