Farmers urge FG to increase support for cocoa production

In order to further aid the production of cocoa in the country, the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) has appealed to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to expedite action on the creation of nurseries in all the cocoa producing states of the country.The farmers, in a letter addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said the action became necessary in order to rejuvenate the various cocoa farms with new yields.According to the letter, signed by the CFAN National President, Chief Raimi Adeniji and Secretary, Mr Adeola Adegoke, the farmers wanted the Federal Government to put in more effort at rejuvenating cocoa farming and production.The farmers also urged the minister to direct the relevant agencies to start work on the project, which had been agreed upon by him during an earlier meeting with the group in order to meet the current planting season.Apart from this, they farmers also demanded the inclusion of Ultimax plus in the list of agro-chemicals which the ministry wanted to procure for the use of farmers in the country.The letter reads in part, 'As the end users of the chemicals, it is important that the ministry should consider the inclusion of Ultimax plus because of its popularity among the farmers.'Various state governments had been procuring it over the years and we find it every useful and effective. We would be grateful if it was among the chemicals that the federal government would procure this year.'The farmers pledged to partner with the federal government to produce the finest cocoa bean and increased its production in Nigeria.
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