The Akwa Ibom State Government has initiated its 2025 program to improve cocoa production by distributing 150,000 cocoa seedlings to farmers throughout the state.

According to the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, who officially launched the distribution on Friday at the Ministry’s Hybrid Cocoa Nursery in Odoro Ikpe, Ini Local Government Area, cocoa is a valuable crop with significant global market demand.

Offor said the state government was committed to expanding cocoa farming to ensure greater food security and economic growth.

She assured farmers that the ministry would continue to support all categories of farmers in the state.

The commissioner urged the beneficiaries to use good agronomic practices for the seedlings to ensure improved yields.

The government guaranteed that cocoa-producing communities would be prioritised for seedling distribution.

Mr. Bassey Inwang, Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Akwa Ibom, praised the state government for its ongoing agricultural support to farmers.

Inwang also advised farmers to ensure proper spacing, utilise organic fertiliser, and apply insecticides appropriately to maximise their yields.

Source: NAN

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