By Fatima Muraina

The Ondo State Government has trained cocoa farmers on fire prevention and safety measures to protect the economic benefits of cocoa production in the state.

The Administrative Secretary of the Cocoa Revolution & Management Agency (COCOREV), Mr. Oluwole Omolakin, urged farmers to adhere to the training guidelines to prevent unnecessary fire outbreaks at plantation sites.

Speaking at the training held at Oda Cocoa Farm Estate in Oda, Akure South, Omolakin emphasized that the training was essential to prevent fire outbreaks that could jeopardize cocoa production in the farm estate, as cocoa has become a major revenue source for both the state government and the farmers.

“Given the international value of cocoa, now nearing ₦14 million per tonne, we must do everything to protect our cocoa plantations because every cocoa tree in the plantation matters to us,” he said.

According to him, the government aims to stop the recurrence of fire outbreaks at the plantations, which have occurred annually since 2020.

He added that any farmer who fails to comply with the fire safety measures would be evicted from the cocoa estate.

He appreciated Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture & Agribusiness, Mr. Wemimo Akinsola, for the opportunity to implement the programme.

A senior fire service officer, Mr. Ologun Olanrewaju, who was the resource person at the event, urged farmers to avoid potential fire hazards such as negligence, intentional actions, human factors, uncontrolled weeds, and natural causes like lightning strikes.

Olanrewaju also highlighted that oxygen, heat, and fuel are the key elements of fire and advised that precautions be taken accordingly.

Another fire officer, Mr. Ijato Emmanuel, stated that plantations affected by fire may no longer bear fruit.

He advocated fire tracing of approximately four meters (12 feet) wide around the farms and suggested that youths form surveillance groups to monitor the cocoa plantations.

He also advised farmers to mobilize quickly as soon as they receive information about any fire outbreak to prevent it from escalating.

In his welcome speech, the Director of Plantation at the Cocoa Revolution & Management Agency, Mr. Vincent Shaba, thanked farmers for sustaining the legacy established years ago at the plantation.

He encouraged farmers to prioritize fire tracing and adopt the fire prevention practices promoted by the Cocoa Revolution & Management Agency.

Farmers were also taken through practical sessions on fire prevention strategies to help avert emergencies.