The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, says the state government is intensifying efforts to combat deforestation and align cocoa production with international sustainability standards.
He stated this at the second Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Participatory Informed Learning Approach Multi-Stakeholders Workshop held in Akure, the Ondo State capital in southwest Nigeria.
Aiyedatiwa said the state had inaugurated a committee on compliance with the European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation to strengthen sustainable cocoa production, agroforestry and forest restoration.
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Forest Degradation
The governor expressed concern over increasing forest degradation in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region caused by the expansion of cocoa and oil palm cultivation.
According to him, about 14,000 small holder cocoa and oil palm farmers have been profiled under the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Global Environment Facility Phase Seven (FAO GEF-7) programme, an international initiative promoting sustainable agriculture, forest restoration and environmentally friendly land use practices.
The programme is being implemented in eight local government areas of Ondo State.
Aiyedatiwa added that farmers and agricultural extension officers had received training on climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry practices and compliance with international market requirements.
Commendation
He commended the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations for supporting efforts aimed at transforming cocoa and oil palm production systems in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region towards sustainability and resilience.
The governor also appreciated Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, as well as the Federal Ministry of Environment, for supporting implementation of the initiative.
Earlier, FAO National Coordinator in Nigeria, Dr. Nifesimi Organic, called for stronger collaboration to promote sustainable land use, agroforestry and improved access to global markets for cocoa and oil palm farmers.
She said Ondo State could emerge as a leading model for climate-resilient cocoa production through improved land use planning, forest conservation and sustainable farming practices.
