
EKSG/ODSG in partnership to develop cocoa
The Ekiti State government has again demonstrated its commitment to
boost its Internally Generated Revenue through agriculture as it took
steps to fast-track the establishment of the proposed Cocoa Processing
Industry in the State.
The commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Folorunso
Olabode made this known in Ondo State while paying a scheduled
courtesy visit to the State’s Cocoa Processing Industry.
Mr. Olabode, who was accompanied on the visit by some officials of the
Ministry, reiterated the desire of Governor Kayode Fayemi’s
administration to partner any appropriate industry wherever situated
that would assist and boost the State’s agriculture production.
“Having a functioning Cocoa Processing Industry in the State will
boost the economy, increase employment in the state especially now
that the government is ready to invest in the agricultural sector”,
the Commissioner said further.
Olabode enjoined the management of Ondo State Cocoa Processing
Industry to help his Ministry with necessary information that would
fast-track the establishment of its own Cocoa Processing Industry
stressing Ekiti State Government’s sincerity of purpose and genuine
commitment to the establishment of the project.
In his own remarks, the Executive Director of Ondo State Cocoa
Processing Industry, Mr. Taiwo Ayodele, who noted that it was high
time a first class Cocoa Processing Industry be established in Ekiti
State going by tonnes of cocoa being produced in the state annually
expressed the readiness of Ondo State Government to collaborate with
Ekiti State Government to make sure cocoa farming become more
enterprising as well as make the establishment of the Processing
Industry in the state a reality.