By Fatima Muraina
A two-day training workshop on cocoa hand pollination has been held in Ondo State as part of efforts to improve cocoa productivity and strengthen agricultural sustainability.
The training, which took place in Ondo was a collaborative initiative between the Cocoa Revolution and Management Agency and the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) with the theme, “Cocoa Hand Pollination on Traceability and Resilience in Agriculture and Ecosystem (TRACE).”
The workshop was hosted at the Owena CRIN Substation and the Ondo State Seed Garden, both located in Owena, and attracted key stakeholders in the cocoa sector, including farmers, extension officers, and agricultural experts.
Among the facilitators at the training were CRIN officials, including Mr. Ogunlade Moses and Dr. Festus Olasupo, alongside other technical staff from the institute. The Administrative Secretary of Cocoa Revolution and Management Agency, Mr. Anthony Omolakin, led the agency’s delegation to the event.
Participants were taken through practical and theoretical sessions focused on hand pollination techniques aimed at improving cocoa yield, ensuring genetic quality, and enhancing resilience within the agricultural ecosystem.
Organizers expressed optimism that the training would significantly boost the production of high-quality planting materials for the rehabilitation of aging and unproductive cocoa plantations in Ondo State and other cocoa-producing regions across Nigeria.
The initiative is also expected to support the availability of hybrid cocoa pods for the establishment of new plantations.
In addition, stakeholders noted that the adoption of improved pollination techniques would enable farmers to produce true-to-type hybrid cocoa pods, thereby increasing both the quantity and quality of output.
The training is further projected to create employment opportunities for youths and women across the cocoa value chain, while improving the livelihoods of farmers through increased productivity and better market prospects.
The initiative underscores ongoing efforts by industry stakeholders to revitalize Nigeria’s cocoa sector and position it for sustainable growth in the global agricultural economy.
Eearlier in his welcome speech, the Administrative Secretary of Cocoa Revolution and Management Agency, Mr Anthony Omolakin, emphasized the importance of cocoa as a major cash crop in the state.
He noted that despite its economic significance, cocoa production has been hindered by low yields, largely due to the inadequate availability of quality seedlings.
Omolakin explained that hand pollination presents a practical solution to this challenge, offering farmers a reliable method to increase pod production and enhance seedling and nursery development.
According to him, the technique is a critical step toward improving overall productivity in the cocoa sector.
“This training is designed to equip participants with both the knowledge and hands-on skills required for effective hand pollination,” he said.
“By improving these techniques, farmers can significantly increase their output and ensure better quality seedlings for future cultivation.”
He expressed confidence that participants would leave the programme with the ability not only to carry out hand pollination independently but also to transfer the knowledge to others within their farming communities.
The training forms part of broader efforts to revitalize cocoa production in Ondo State, reinforcing its role as a key driver of economic growth and agricultural sustainability in Nigeria.
Farmers and agricultural stakeholders in Ondo State were however encouraged to adopt hand pollination techniques to improve cocoa yield and strengthen the state’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy.