The Ekiti State Government has unveiled a plan to raise 10 million cocoa seedlings over the next decade as part of efforts to revive cocoa production and strengthen its position in Nigeria’s cocoa value chain.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, disclosed that the initiative aims to reverse declining cocoa output caused by ageing plantations. He explained that the state plans to produce one million seedlings annually over a 10-year period.
According to Boluwade, the programme will be implemented in collaboration with the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, alongside the TRACE project, which focuses on sustainable cocoa production and improved quality.
He noted that farmers participating in the pilot phase have already received support, including irrigation pumps, to enable year-round nursery operations. Improved, high-yield and climate-resilient seedlings are also being distributed to boost productivity.
The government further announced plans to subsidise cocoa seedlings and agrochemicals by 50 percent to encourage wider participation among farmers, while also providing training to meet global export standards.
Boluwade added that the initiative aligns with broader efforts to promote environmental sustainability, ensure traceability, and eliminate practices such as deforestation and child labour in cocoa production.
The state also plans to leverage support from the African Development Bank-backed agro-industrial programme to enhance value addition and create jobs within the cocoa processing sector.
