Deliver inputs timely, CAN urges FG

Fatimah Muraina
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Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Federal Government for the provision of all farming inputs and early delivery to meet planting season.

The Ondo State Secretary of the Association, Mr Ezekiel Ibitoye said this in an interview with The Hope, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Ibitoye observed that delay in providing farming inputs to farmers is adversely affecting the production which he said is attributed to it’s poor performance well at the international market.

Ezekiel, which appreciated the state government for it’s effort said Federal Government should be more proactive in assisting farmers to bring back the lost glory at the international market.

He raised the need for the improvement of cocoa production in the country saying that it’s position has dropped from first to seventh.

Ibitoye, who also attributed the fall of the produce to aged farmers and non availability of younger ones into farming urged government to get involved in the production.

He called on the State Government to facilitate it’s promise on providing 2,000 hectares of land to farmers where four hectares he promised would be earmarked for each youth as a settlement for cocoa plantation.

He applauded the state government for redeeming it’s promise as it began the distribution of highly improved cocoa seedlings to farmers across the state.