By Paul Joseph
Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming the state into a major player in the global cocoa export market through sustainable agriculture and aggressive anti-deforestation policies.
Speaking at the 2nd FAO Participatory Informed Learning Approach Multi-Stakeholders Workshop held in Akure, the governor said Ondo was aligning its cocoa production systems with international environmental standards and emerging global trade regulations.
The workshop was organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations under the GEF-7 FOLUR-IP Nigeria Project.
Aiyedatiwa disclosed that the state government had inaugurated a Strategic Committee on European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation compliance to ensure Ondo’s cocoa industry meets international expectations on sustainable production, agroforestry and forest restoration.
According to him, a separate forest management committee has also been established to strengthen monitoring of forest activities and protect the state’s natural resources from degradation.
The governor revealed that no fewer than 14,000 cocoa and oil palm farmers across eight local government areas had already been profiled under the pilot phase of the FAO-backed sustainability initiative.
The benefiting councils include Akure South, Idanre, Ondo West, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, Owo, Odigbo, Okitipupa and Irele.
He noted that the programme has supported the state through climate-smart agriculture training, agroforestry development, GIS mapping technology, timber and agroforestry seedlings distribution, and European Union compliance initiatives aimed at improving farmers’ access to premium international markets.
Aiyedatiwa also commended FAO for supporting the establishment of a Geographic Information System laboratory within the state’s REDD+ Unit, describing it as a major boost for geospatial analysis, forest mapping and landscape management.
The governor stressed the importance of integrated landscape management and sustainable food systems in guaranteeing food security, environmental protection and improved livelihoods for farmers.
Earlier, FAO National Coordinator in Nigeria, Nifesmi Ogunkua, urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in promoting sustainable land use, agroforestry and climate-resilient agricultural systems.
She warned that increased cocoa and oil palm production would have limited impact if farmers failed to meet international traceability and certification requirements needed for access to premium export markets.
Ogunkua described Ondo as strategically important to Nigeria’s cocoa economy and capable of becoming a model for sustainable cocoa production across Africa if effective land use planning and forest conservation policies are sustained.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Leye Akinola, said the workshop focused on land use planning, governance frameworks, agroecological transition pathways, certification standards and participatory environmental management.
He added that the initiative was designed to deepen institutional collaboration and strengthen sustainable agricultural systems across the state.
Among dignitaries at the event were Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami, Chief of Staff Prince Segun Omojuwa, traditional rulers, local government chairmen and representatives of development agencies and farmers’ groups.
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