Gôvernor Lucky Aiyedatiwa says the Ondo State Government has stepped up measures to tackle deforestation while positioning the state’s cocoa industry to meet international export standards.
The governor said the move was aimed at ensuring sustainable agricultural production and improving compliance with evolving global market requirements for cocoa exports.
Aiyedatiwa made this known on Tuesday in Akure during the opening of the second workshop organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization under the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (GEF-7 FOLUR-IP) Nigeria Project.
According to him, the state government has inaugurated a Strategic Committee on compliance with the European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) to strengthen environmentally friendly cocoa production across the state.
He explained that the initiative would help align Ondo’s cocoa sector with international standards on deforestation-free production, agroforestry practices and restoration of degraded forest areas.
The governor noted that the FAO had continued to play a major role in promoting sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation in Ondo State.
He stated that the project was currently being implemented in eight local government areas, including Akure South, Idanre, Ondo West, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, Owo, Odigbo, Okitipupa and Irele.
Aiyedatiwa disclosed that no fewer than 14,000 smallholder cocoa and oil palm farmers had already been captured under the pilot phase of the programme.
He commended the FAO for supporting initiatives targeted at transforming cocoa and oil palm production systems in the Niger Delta into more resilient and sustainable models.
The governor also praised the organisation for providing Geographic Information System (GIS) equipment to the state to aid the establishment of a laboratory.
He stressed the importance of collaboration among stakeholders in adopting integrated landscape management and sustainable food systems capable of improving food security and enhancing farmers’ livelihoods.
Aiyedatiwa assured stakeholders that the state government would increase its counterpart funding support for the FAO project to ensure its successful implementation.
“Let me add that the upgrading of the nursery garden of the Forestry Unit sited in Aponmu, Akure South LGA is presently ongoing; with a borehole already constructed, raising of agroforestry seedlings and other upgrading facilities being put in place.
“We have no doubt these activities will have a positive impact on the agricultural sector for improvement in food production and security systems in our Sunshine State,” he said.
Earlier, FAO National Coordinator in Nigeria, Dr Nifesimi Ogunkua, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to promote sustainable land use, agroforestry and better access to international markets for cocoa and oil palm farmers in Ondo State.
Ogunkua explained that the FAO remained responsible for ensuring the technical quality and overall delivery of the project while working closely with relevant national institutions to achieve lasting impact.
She added that the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria served as the project’s executing partner through the National Project Management Unit and State Implementation Unit under the global programme operating across Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Also speaking, the Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Leye Akinola, said the workshop focused on integrated landscape management, land use planning, governance frameworks and agroecological transition pathways.
According to Akinola, the workshop was designed to deepen stakeholder cooperation, strengthen institutional partnerships and identify practical steps for promoting sustainable agricultural and food systems.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in Ondo State, Mr Gbenga Fasua, assured that the eight participating local government councils would continue to support and sustain the project.
