…as Ekiti Govt Reaffirms Commitment to Globally Competitive Cocoa Production

The Ekiti State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving cocoa quality and positioning the state’s produce for competitiveness in the global market.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, stated this in Ado-Ekiti while reviewing the report of a three-day capacity-building training on cocoa quality and flavour enhancement organised under the TRACE Project in collaboration with the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN).

Boluwade said the training was designed to equip cocoa farmers with best practices for producing high-quality cocoa beans that meet national and international standards.

According to him, the programme forms part of deliberate efforts to strengthen the cocoa value chain in the state, improve farmers’ incomes and ensure compliance with global regulations, including the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

“The training featured both theoretical and practical sessions, with emphasis on proper harvesting and post-harvest handling practices,” he said.

The commissioner explained that the practical session, which held in Oye-Ekiti, exposed participants to standard harvesting techniques, fermentation processes, drying methods and quality preservation practices.

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He disclosed that CRIN, as part of its support for sustainable cocoa production, provided fermentation boxes free of charge to participating farmers to encourage the adoption of standard fermentation practices capable of enhancing cocoa quality and flavour.

Boluwade added that beneficiaries of the training were expected to cascade the knowledge acquired to other cocoa farmers across cocoa-producing communities in the state.

“This will ensure wider impact, faster adoption of best practices and full compliance with international requirements, while positioning Ekiti cocoa as a premium and globally acceptable product,” he said.

The commissioner commended the TRACE Project and CRIN for the collaboration and assured that the state government would continue to partner with relevant stakeholders to promote sustainable agriculture and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

Earlier, the Director of Tree Crops in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Tope Alao, said that more than 50 cocoa farmers from across the state participated in the training.

Alao said the programme comprised a one-day theoretical session held in Ado-Ekiti and a two-day practical session conducted on cocoa farms in Oye-Ekiti, owned by Messrs. Johnson Fabusuyi and Segun Olatunji.