President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday constituted an inter-ministerial committee on Cocoa production and processing as a way of increasing the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) earnings through cocoa production.
Jonathan said the committee has been given a six-week ultimatum to submit its report to the government for ‘effective’ implementation.
Jonathan disclosed this in Ilorin, Kwara State capital yesterday while delivering a speech at the closing ceremony of the 6th National Cocoa Day Celebration organised for the 14-cocoa producing states in the country held at the ultra modern Metropolitan Township Square, located along Asa Dam Road, Ilorin.
According to him, “the committee should comprise the ministry of finance, ministry of agriculture and rural development, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, among others”.
Represented by the Vice President, Mr. Namadi Sambo, Jonathan said facilities that would assist the farmers in cocoa production would be provided for them so that they would take it with all the seriousness it deserved.
He said ‘’I am convinced that with proper management cocoa will contribute immensely to national GDP , and gradually we will be able to move from a mono-economic nation to a diverse one through cocoa production’’.
Jonathan added that, all the states that produce cocoa should try as much as possible to be able to move from a mono cocoa producing state to major ones for better development.
He explained that with the new breed of cocoa seedlings available in the country which has a very quick gestation period and high yield, cocoa producers would be getting good money for themselves and the country.
He noted ‘’About 70% of our people are small scale farmers but if agriculture is well harnessed and backed up with well actualised government policies, the farmers will be assisted greatly’’.
Jonathan pointed out further that , the federal government has already approved N1billion loan that is expected to cover the cocoa farmers; adding that government is also bringing hybrid seedlings and other farm inputs which would be sold to the farmers at a subsidised rate so that cocoa production will regain its lost glory in the country.
He however called on the government at all levels to be proactive in the development of agriculture saying that such move would assist the nation to be out of poverty and thereby create employment opportunities for all the young ones .
In his address the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Professor Ahmed Abdullahi, said the theme of the 6th national cocoa day which is ‘’Quality Cocoa for national development was well chosen to reflect the importance Nigeria attached to cocoa production.
He said Nigeria is about the 4th among the cocoa producing countries and that agriculture is contributing about 30% of the country’s source of revenue .
He assured the cocoa farmers in the country that government was determined to assist and support them in their quest to develop the country through agriculture .
Earlier in his welcome address, the Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki commended the federal government for supporting the programme and for chosing Ilorin as the hosting place for assessing cocoa for national development .
He however said that with the three-day programme, the glory of cocoa production is being re-kindled for better development of the agricultural sector.
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