The Governor of Osun,  Ademola Adeleke, says farmers in the state have planted 400,000 cocoa seedlings since 2023.

A statement signed by his spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed, in Oshogbo on Friday, noted that the governor disclosed this while receiving a report on the state’s agricultural sector.

Mr Adeleke said the administration’s cocoa expansion initiative received a boost with the seedlings.

He said the seedlings were distributed to farmers at highly subsidised rates, expressing satisfaction that the state is on track to reclaim a frontline position ahead of Ondo and Cross River states.

The governor pledged a more aggressive cocoa-planting strategy, adding that the initiative is being reinforced by efforts to expand agro-processing infrastructure and to enhance the cocoa value chain.

Mr Adeleke also said the cashew expansion project has recorded significant success, with 80,000 seedlings planted since 2023.

The governor said the state is seeking to ramp up its annual output in the sector to increase stakeholders’ capacity to meet both local and global demand.

“I am also happy to announce that a total of 60,000 oil palm seedlings were planted within the same period.

“We are targeting these three major cash crops in our diversification drive. We want to be known as a hub not only for cocoa but also for cashew and oil palm,” he said.

Mr Adeleke further said his administration had purchased 31 tractors, with plans to acquire more to meet a target of 117, but noted that withheld local government allocations had hindered the effort.

“However, the 31 tractors deployed across the state have been serving farmers effectively at subsidised rates.I am happy to report that from 2025 to date, the state’s tractors have cultivated 4,511 acres.

“This represents a significant improvement on the previous administration, which recorded a low level of mechanisation. Our farmers are benefiting from tractorisation services across the state.

“They are also receiving farm inputs regularly since the inception of this administration. Ours is a pro-farmer government,” he said.

The governor commended the All Farmers’ Association in the state for endorsing his re-election.

(NAN)