The Ekiti State Government has disclosed plans to raise 10 million cocoa seedlings over the next decade to revive cocoa production, strengthen its role in Nigeria’s cocoa value chain, and create jobs through expanded cocoa processing and value addition.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, revealed that the initiative will see the government produce one million cocoa seedlings annually over a 10-year period. According to him, the move is a deliberate effort to reposition Ekiti as a leading cocoa-producing state while unlocking new economic opportunities across the value chain.
He explained that the programme is not just about increasing production but also about building a sustainable system that supports farmers and improves output quality. “This initiative is aimed at reversing the long decline in cocoa output caused by ageing plantations that have exceeded their productive lifespan,” Boluwade said.
To achieve this, the state is working closely with the TRACE Project, the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). These partnerships are expected to provide farmers with improved seedlings, modern farming techniques, and access to critical inputs.
Boluwade noted that the TRACE programme plays a key role in ensuring quality and sustainability. “The programme focuses on sustainable cocoa sourcing and improving cocoa quality through expert fermentation processes,” he said, adding that it also promotes traceability, environmental protection, and ethical production standards.
As part of early implementation efforts, 28 farmers involved in developing cocoa nurseries have already received irrigation pumps worth millions of naira to support all-year-round seedling production. The government is also supplying improved, high-yield and climate-resilient cocoa varieties that can mature within three years, allowing farmers to see quicker returns.
In addition, the state plans to ease farmers’ financial burden by offering cocoa seedlings and agrochemicals at a 50 per cent subsidy. Boluwade said this is designed to encourage wider participation and reduce production costs.
“We are also prioritising global competitiveness,” he stated, noting that farmers are being trained in cocoa traceability to meet international export standards. This is expected to improve Ekiti’s standing in the global cocoa market.
Beyond production, the government is targeting value addition as a major driver of job creation. Boluwade disclosed that Ekiti is working to leverage the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, supported by the African Development Bank, to expand cocoa processing activities within the state.
He added that weather support from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency will guide planting decisions, with full rainfall expected by mid-April, while distribution of subsidised seedlings will be decentralised to ensure farmers across the state can access them easily.
