The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in Osun State, Tola Faseru, has revealed that the state is aiming to become top producers of cocoa, cashew and other cash crops by following what Ivory Coast is doing to remain largest producers of these crops in the world.
Faseru, who was one of the guests during Channels Television’s 64th Independence Day Special Programme on Tuesday, said Governor Ademola Adeleke is committed to returning Osun State to the pinnacle of agriculture in Nigeria.
His words: “We are talking about revamping the cocoa value chain of the state, Osun State is number three in Nigeria. What we are doing is to look at what Ivory Coast is doing.
“Ivory Coast is the largest producer of cocoa in the world with about 2 million tons, largest producer of cashews with about a million tons. These commodities are commodities that are actually supporting the economy of that country.”
He said the state government has formed a great relationship with the farmers associations in the state in the efforts to achieve its aim of using agriculture to support the economy of the state.
According to him, the government is engaging the state’s farmers from time to time to give them high quality seedlings and other supports in the area of mechanisation
He added that beyond that they are giving them all the crops and fertilizers.