Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has approved a 50% subsidy on Oil Palm, cocoa and cashew seedlings to be distributed to farmers in the state this planting season.
Ekiti News reports that this is part of Government efforts to rejuvenate and scale up tree crop production in the State.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and food security, said the move is part of strategic steps by the Oyebanji Administration to create employment and wealth and also return Ekiti State to the golden era of the 1970s when the State was reputed globally as one of the leading cocoa producing centres in Nigeria.
The Commissioner said the scheme is intended to bring back the glory years by replacing aged trees in old plantations and those lost to bush burning with improved seedlings with short gestation period while efforts are also on to inject willing young committed farmers into cocoa plantation farming
He urged all legacy farmers and new ones to key into this scheme and benefit from the programme noting that Government will also support the farmers with agrochemicals to prevent fungi diseases ,pests and ultimately improve yield.
Boluwade disclosed that global cocoa business was booming in the international market as prices of the commodity has climbed on the International Market to 10,000 dollars/metric tonne.
He advised interested farmers in the State to reach out to the Tree Crops Department of the Ministry and get the details of payment as stated on the flyer.