Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has stepped up efforts to position Ondo State as a key player in the global cocoa market.
He unveiled tougher measures against deforestation alongside a renewed focus on sustainable agriculture across the state.
Speaking on Tuesday at the 2nd FAO Participatory Informed Learning Approach Workshop in Akure, the governor said the state was now aligning its agricultural systems with the European Union’s new sustainability requirements, including the European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR), to ensure local farmers retain access to high-value international markets.
Aiyedatiwa announced the creation of a State Strategic Committee on EUDR Compliance, tasked with driving the transition towards deforestation-free cocoa and oil palm production while restoring degraded forest areas.
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He also confirmed the establishment of a Forest Management Committee to strengthen oversight of forest resources, alongside a newly deployed Geographic Information System (GIS) laboratory.
The facility, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization, will support land mapping, monitoring, and traceability required for global certification standards.
Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the programme, pledging increased state co-financing to ensure the success of the FAO-GEF 7 project and long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector.
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The reforms are being implemented under the FAO GEF-7 FOLUR-IP Nigeria Project, which currently covers eight local government areas, including Akure South, Idanre, Ondo West, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, Owo, Odigbo, Okitipupa, and Irele.
Key progress recorded includes: around 14,000 cocoa and oil palm farmers profiled for sustainability tracking and training for extension officers and farmers in climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, and digital mapping.
Others are distribution of agroforestry and timber seedlings for forest restoration and community engagement on land governance and customary land titling.
National FAO Coordinator in Nigeria, Nifesmi Ogunkua, stressed that increasing production alone would not be enough unless farmers could access premium export markets.
She warned that without proper traceability and certification systems, cocoa and oil palm from the state could struggle to meet international buyer requirements.
Ondo State, she added, was being positioned as a model for climate-resilient agriculture in Africa.
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Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry Leye Akinola, said the workshop brought together traditional rulers, private sector stakeholders, and development partners to strengthen governance for the ongoing agroecological transition.
He also noted that the state had become a focal point for the initiative due to its importance in Nigeria’s cocoa production landscape.
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The event was attended by senior government officials, including Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami and the Chairman of ALGON in Ondo State, Gbenga Fasua, who both pledged continued support for the initiative.
