Osun to expand economic base with cocoa festival

Osun State Government has said it would collaborate with the Eti-Oni community in the state to hold a cocoa festival in order to encourage farmers and expand the economic base of the state.
 
Source: guardian.ng
The festival which also aims to boost cocoa production among farmers is expected to attract several players in the private sector of the economy.

Oloni of Eti-Oni, Oba Thompson Adedokun, who disclosed this to journalists at the Ministry of Agriculture, Government Secretariat in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, explained that the festival is an initiative of the Eti-Oni Development Group and an avenue for the celebration of the cultural heritage of Eti-Oni.

Oba Adedokun said this year’s celebration is tagged, “The Royal Origins and Traditions of Cocoa for Sustainability,” adding that the community is celebrating 121 years of continued production of cocoa.

He encouraged stakeholders to support the government in the area of value adding to agriculture produce, renewable energy, and also an excellent social service delivery, which would boast cocoa production to enable it compete in the international markets.

The royal father said: “There is rapid increase in agriculture development, and stakeholders are needed to support the government in the areas of value added to agriculture, renewable energy which would help to create an excellent social service delivery.”

According to him, such synergy would help create opportunities in the area of education, retail and hospitality business as well as technology development to grasp what is offered in today’s digital world.

Dr Yemi Adegoke, Chairman, Osun Produce Board (OPB), said cocoa has been the major cash crop used to develop the country even before the inception of crude oil in the 1970s, adding that Eti-Oni was the first place in Nigeria where cocoa was first cultivated.

Dr. Charles Akinola, Chairman of O’ Reap in Osun, urged cocoa partners, famers, and international marketers to support the forthcoming cocoa festival, to encourage cocoa development and the larger agriculture sector.


Akinola thanked the state for its concern especially to the agricultural sector, while urging it to do more integration by engaging stakeholders to ensure global and quality standard.

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