By Olamide Iwala

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A cocoa merchant, Mr. Charles Lawalson, has appealed for government support to boost cocoa production in Nigeria.

In an interview with The Hope, Lawalson expressed concern over the effect of insecurity on agriculture, noting that many farmers are now afraid to go to their farms.

He also emphasised the need for access to government-backed loans to help farmers cope with rising operational costs.

“We need the government’s assistance to access loans. Labourers now demand as much as half a million naira annually, and we still have to feed them,” he said.

He further called for subsidies on farm chemicals to alleviate the financial burden on farmers.