Post by Short_Biscuit on Apr 28, 2016 8:46:25 GMT
Elder Johnson Akinniyi is a cocoa farmer and merchant. He is the chairman of an Ondo-based cocoa interest group. In this interview with TUNDE BUSARI, he speaks on how South-west government can increase production. Excerpts:
Is Ondo State still number one cocoa producing state in Nigeria with the pace of Cross Rivers State?
Ondo State still takes the lead in Nigeria and that is a plus not only to the state but the entire South-west zone. What this means is that South-west is blessed with arable land. But I must be sincere in my analysis so that we don’t end up deceiving ourselves. As you rightly observed, Cross Rivers is more serious and not pretending to be after Ondo in terms of cocoa production. I have visited the state and met an impressive agriculture policy by the government. They are into mechanised cocoa production when we are still practising the way our fathers did it over 100 years.
Can you expatiate on what you saw in Cross-Rivers?
There is what I should call a mass production of cocoa going on in that state. It is what can best be called cocoa revolution. It is a public-private arrangement which is working very well. Hectares of land are allocated and backed up with capital input. How would cocoa famers be happy? Why I am most impressed is that Cross-Rivers State is also an oil-producing state. This shows the government over there is more serious. Cross Rivers State Government, despite its oil, is really planning for the future. They are seriously organised there. They have agencies set up to look and cater for cocoa production just to ensure they achieve maximum output.
Comparatively, is this not a threat to Ondo State?
As I have just said, the threat is real. If they maintain the pace, I have no doubt in my mind that in a few years, they will overtake Ondo to become the highest cocoa producing state in Nigeria. Perhaps, then our people here will wake up and do what is right?
What is the right thing which South-West governments are not doing as regards cocoa production?
I observe that our people find it difficult to say the truth. But until we say the truth and damn the consequence of saying it, we would not get to where we should as cocoa producing zone. I am always amazed recalling how the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo used cocoa revenue to develop the former Western Region to the state of envy of other regions. Why should our successive government not consolidate on that and make oil revenue secondary to our cocoa? That is why I now say that the fall in price of crude oil may be a blessing to us if we see it that way, anyway? I see it as an opportunity for our government to reflect and return to farm and return to the good old days of Chief Awolowo government.
What is your experience as a cocoa farmer and merchant?
The experience is better left than talked about here because one needs to be in the farm to see what an average farmer goes through. Does it make sense that our farmers still use old, aged implements like cutlass and hoe? Farmers suffer from different angles. After suffering to produce cocoa, they also face problem of storage. The process of harvesting, drying and carrying bags of cocoa to town is painful. The roads leading to farm are deplorable, a nightmare to drivers, especially during raining season. Lack of storage facilities forces them to sell immediately instead of preserving some to have appreciable price later. Going by this, young farmers are not attractive to take up farming.
What then do you suggest to the government?
Total cocoa rebirth and rehabilitation is my idea to sell to the government up to the federal level. We cannot continue to do things same way and not having same result. I am insisting on the farm settlement scheme of the Western Region days. Agric venture, if properly monitored, yields 100 per cent result. Invest in agric and reap bountifully. Government should refocus and end the practice of paper farmers. Enough is enough for political farmers who sit in the office and determine what goes to the farm. Farming is a practical thing. Back-to-land scheme in form of the former National Directorate of Employment should be put in place to bring in the unemployed young ones back to farm. With adequate loan facilities and other assistance, the youths would make the desired difference in our search for increased cocoa production.
tribuneonlineng.com/‘cross-river-may-soon-overtake-ondo-in-cocoa-production’
Is Ondo State still number one cocoa producing state in Nigeria with the pace of Cross Rivers State?
Ondo State still takes the lead in Nigeria and that is a plus not only to the state but the entire South-west zone. What this means is that South-west is blessed with arable land. But I must be sincere in my analysis so that we don’t end up deceiving ourselves. As you rightly observed, Cross Rivers is more serious and not pretending to be after Ondo in terms of cocoa production. I have visited the state and met an impressive agriculture policy by the government. They are into mechanised cocoa production when we are still practising the way our fathers did it over 100 years.
Can you expatiate on what you saw in Cross-Rivers?
There is what I should call a mass production of cocoa going on in that state. It is what can best be called cocoa revolution. It is a public-private arrangement which is working very well. Hectares of land are allocated and backed up with capital input. How would cocoa famers be happy? Why I am most impressed is that Cross-Rivers State is also an oil-producing state. This shows the government over there is more serious. Cross Rivers State Government, despite its oil, is really planning for the future. They are seriously organised there. They have agencies set up to look and cater for cocoa production just to ensure they achieve maximum output.
Comparatively, is this not a threat to Ondo State?
As I have just said, the threat is real. If they maintain the pace, I have no doubt in my mind that in a few years, they will overtake Ondo to become the highest cocoa producing state in Nigeria. Perhaps, then our people here will wake up and do what is right?
What is the right thing which South-West governments are not doing as regards cocoa production?
I observe that our people find it difficult to say the truth. But until we say the truth and damn the consequence of saying it, we would not get to where we should as cocoa producing zone. I am always amazed recalling how the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo used cocoa revenue to develop the former Western Region to the state of envy of other regions. Why should our successive government not consolidate on that and make oil revenue secondary to our cocoa? That is why I now say that the fall in price of crude oil may be a blessing to us if we see it that way, anyway? I see it as an opportunity for our government to reflect and return to farm and return to the good old days of Chief Awolowo government.
What is your experience as a cocoa farmer and merchant?
The experience is better left than talked about here because one needs to be in the farm to see what an average farmer goes through. Does it make sense that our farmers still use old, aged implements like cutlass and hoe? Farmers suffer from different angles. After suffering to produce cocoa, they also face problem of storage. The process of harvesting, drying and carrying bags of cocoa to town is painful. The roads leading to farm are deplorable, a nightmare to drivers, especially during raining season. Lack of storage facilities forces them to sell immediately instead of preserving some to have appreciable price later. Going by this, young farmers are not attractive to take up farming.
What then do you suggest to the government?
Total cocoa rebirth and rehabilitation is my idea to sell to the government up to the federal level. We cannot continue to do things same way and not having same result. I am insisting on the farm settlement scheme of the Western Region days. Agric venture, if properly monitored, yields 100 per cent result. Invest in agric and reap bountifully. Government should refocus and end the practice of paper farmers. Enough is enough for political farmers who sit in the office and determine what goes to the farm. Farming is a practical thing. Back-to-land scheme in form of the former National Directorate of Employment should be put in place to bring in the unemployed young ones back to farm. With adequate loan facilities and other assistance, the youths would make the desired difference in our search for increased cocoa production.
tribuneonlineng.com/‘cross-river-may-soon-overtake-ondo-in-cocoa-production’
