Government of Ekiti State, Nigeria.

EKSG Distributes Agric Inputs Worth N208M To Cocoa Farmers

July 30, 2012

Ekiti State Government has distributed agricultural inputs worth N208 million naira to cocoa farmers across the sixteen Local Government
Areas of the State at subsidized rates.
Performing the ceremony in Ise-Ekiti,the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural resources, Mr. Babajide Arowosafe said the distribution was part of the Growth Enhancement Scheme of the State Government.
Mr. Arowosafe explained that federal and state government have paid 50% of the total cost of the farm inputs while cocoa famers have to pay the remaining 50%.
The Commissioner who noted that cocoa farmers in the state were not used to fungicides, insecticides and fertilizers which was responsible for their low profit margin , expressed the readiness of the State Government  to assist them to have bountiful harvests henceforth.
He urged them not to use the inputs given to them on more than two hectares of cocoa plantation in order not to reduce the potency of the agrochemicals and agrolizers.

Mr. Arowosafe who called for understanding on why government did not go through cocoa association in reaching out to them, said the State
Government would prefer dealing directly with real farmers to avoid delay and fraudulent practices.
Responding, the Chairman of the Golden Cocoa Farmers Association, Chief Rufus Agada urged cocoa farmers to embrace the Growth Enhancement scheme of the Government.
Chief Agada solicited for more support from the State Government and pledged the cooperation of farmers in the state. He urged the officials of Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) to do more extension services to the various cocoa plantations to avoid misapplication of the agrochemicals and agrolizers.
Items distributed to each cocoa farmer include: 5 bags of fertilizer, 5 containers of agrolisers, 70 sachets of ridomine, 70 sachets of fungrah OH and 60 sachets of champ DP.

Last modified: July 30, 2012

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