By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
ACTIONAID Nigeria has called on the government to increase public investment in agriculture, adopt inclusive budgeting, and promote agroecology to tackle food inflation in the country.

Blessing Akhile, Food and Agriculture Programme Adviser, ActionAid Nigeria made the call in her opening remarks at a Stakeholders Consultative Meeting on the Kogi Sate 2025 Agriculture Budget on Tuesday in Lokoja.

The meeting was organized by Small-scale Women Farmers Organization In Nigeria (SWOFON) in collaboration with Kogi State Budget Committee Group (BCG) with support from ActionAid Nigeria.

“We know how important agriculture is to Nigeria and also to Kogi state. If you check statistics, agriculture is a major contributor to economic development and it is also one of the major activities that generate income for the economic growth in Kogi state.

She said government needed to get it right in the budgeting for the sector by making the processes participatory with citizens’ inputs including among others, employment creation, economic growth and ensuring food security.

The ActionAid Programme Adviser said Nigeria should have no business with issues of food inflation We see what has been food inflation everywhere. Nigeria has no business having issues with food inflation.

Akhile said ActionAid is currently working on scaling up of public investment in Agriculture in eight states including Kogi adding, “We have the project in Bauchi, Gombe, Delta, Ebonyi, Ondo, Kwara, Kogi States and the FCT.”

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Timothy Ojomah represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Akin Jonah Enehe said Agricultural Production was crucial adding efforts must be made for the sector to succeed.

Ojomah said Agriculture remained the only solution to the nation’s food inflation and related crisis problem saying there was need to scale up agricultural activities in Kogi State.

The Commissioner said that the state government was making inroads into upscaling wet season farming with additional N5 billion adding that there was need to ensure accessment, utilization and monitoring.

Dr. Bello Ogirima, Managing Director of Kogi Agricultural Development Project (ADP), highlighted the state’s potential for food production, citing land, population, and technical expertise.

He praised Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo’s interventions, including empowering 7,000 farmers with 5,000 hectares of land and free inputs.

Hon. Dr. Bello Oluwaseyi Victor, House Committee Chairman on Agriculture, stressed the need for legislative support and budgetary provisions to reinforce the performance of agricultural agencies and ministries.

The Legislator commended the organizers of the programme saying, “This feedback mechanism to the government does not only play a major advisory role, but also evaluate the performance of government’s PPPs to ensure value for money.”

Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Agriculture, Hon. Otaru Abdulkabir said time had come for stakeholders in the Agriculture sector at national and sub-national levels to look inwards with high level of commitment to the cause of food security.

Hon. Abdulkabir however reemphasize d the commitment of governor Ododo’s administration to the development of agriculture as exemplified in his recent specific directive exempting civil servants and politicians from benefitting in fertilizers and inputs distribution but to genuine farmers only.

The meeting aimed to generate citizen inputs for the 2025 budget and ensure participatory governance in agriculture.

Stakeholders called for targeted investments, subsidized inputs, and climate-resilient practices to boost food production, employment and economic growth.

Earlier in his speech, Chairman of the State Budget Committee Group, Mr Matthias Okpanachi, reiterated the need for citizens to take bold steps towards agricultural growth saying that the meeting was aimed at driving agricultural growth, improve livelihoods, and ensure food security.

Okpanachi emphasized the importance of collaboration and cooperation in navigating climate change, market fluctuations, and technological disruptions. (Ends)

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun has visited Kebbi State to reinforce economic partnerships and confront the impact of flooding on agriculture.

Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga said the
move reflected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to enhancing local economic growth and addressing natural disasters.
He indicated thst edun was accompanied during the visit by Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu in the tour of the WACOT Rice Limited facility in Argungu, a cutting-edge rice processing plant with an impressive annual milling capacity of 120,000 metric tons.
The facility the statement indicatef plays a pivotal role in the region’s economy by supporting thousands of farmers through an extensive procurement network and an 8,000-strong out-grower farming program, significantly boosting local rice production.

Edun also visited a rice farm currently facing challenges due to ongoing flooding, which threatens agricultural productivity in the area the statement indicated further.
Addressing the issue, Edun reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to mitigating the effects of these floods.
He emphasized the proactive measures facilitated by the National Economic Council (NEC) and Governor Nasir Idris, which have allocated N3 billion to each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to combat, mitigate, and prepare for the effects of flooding during the 2024 rainy season.
The funds the minister said are specifically aimed at supporting local farmers and safeguarding the agricultural sector.
The Minister commended the resilience and determination of the Kebbi State community and reiterated President Tinubu’s dedication to enhancing security and increasing productive capacity across the region. He also called for continued private sector investment to further expand agricultural production and reinforce Nigeria’s standing as a leading agricultural producer on the global stage.

Edun’s visit to Kebbi State the statement explainef underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting local farmers, addressing the challenges posed by natural disasters, and driving economic growth.
“The combination of proactive government measures and private sector investment is expected to enhance agricultural resilience, boost productivity, and solidify Nigeria’s position as a key player in global agriculture.

“As Nigeria moves forward, the collaborative efforts of government and stakeholders will be essential in overcoming challenges and achieving sustainable economic development.”

Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) has appealed to the European Union (EU) Commission request for an extention of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) implemention by one year

The European market which takes up about 70% of cocoa exports from Nigeria has set up regulations prohibiting cocoa harvested from deforested area or those which are the products of child labor.
Hence, the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) was initiated to curb deforestation and forest degradation driven by EU consumption of certain commodities.
The letter which was addressed to Janusz Wojciechowski: EU Commissioner for Agriculture Brussels, Belgium, had its copies extended to the Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, minister of Agricultyre and Food Security,Senator Abubakar Kyari and the minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and signed by the National President of the Association, Comrade Adeola Adegoke.
The letter specifically appealed for the deadline for EUDR implementation to be postponed from the earlier date of December 2024 to December 2025
It also pointed out that Nigeria has achieved about 60% traceability in its supply chain through due diligence efforts by stakeholders.
The letter reads,
“Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria will like to join the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and several other voices around the globe, including United States of America, EU member States on the need for the European Union to postpone the implementation of EUDR compliance for another one year.
“Our appeal is based on the imminent negative impact on the livelihoods of cocoa farmers, if the present date is not shifted by one year to enable better preparations by the smallholder cocoa farmers, who have been hampered by lack of adequate information on EUDR at their farm gate levels.
“Nigeria is one of the cocoa origin countries in the World, contributing about 6.5% to the global cocoa production and accounting for 29℅ of the total agricultural export in 2023, valued at N1.24 trillion with an estimated value of N 356.16 billion.
This the letter noted makes it imperative for the EU Commission to reconsider the need for the postponement of EUDR for one year to enable better preparations.

“Nigeria now had about 279 per cent increment in cocoa exports revenue. And the majority of our cocoa farmers are in penury, aside the new cocoa soaring prices recently enjoyed by the farmers of Nigeria due to the deregulation of the Nigeria cocoa sector, above our cocoa farmers counterpart in Ivory Coast and Ghana that run a regulated cocoa board which buys and sells cocoa unlike what obtains in Nigeria. “EUDR compliance at this time might be pushing our cocoa farmers into more poverty if the time frame is not re-adjusted.

“You must recalled that it was CFAN that first raised the alarm on EUDR in the year 2021, through a press conference done in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja in October.
“This was at a time the Association was preparing for the scheduled Nigerian Cocoa Summit & Award event that was held in November 30th and 1st December 2021 at Sandrela Hotel, Abuja.

“We are aware of the fact that Nigeria cocoa could be at a risk if we do not take necessary legal steps to stop and remediate deforestation and come up with strategies of gaining forest loss in our cocoa communities through our collective action.
“And also comply with other factors listed in the Articles 3(b) of the regulations which also deals with land rights, human rights, labour right, laws of the indegenous people, tax and corruption now starring us in the face as a cocoa origin country.

“Today, where are the people calling us agent of doom on many national news platforms when we raised the alarm in 2021?
“Nigerians would testify to CFAN outcry to the relevant government institution and several media outlets, the impending actions of the EU on due diligence, which requires full traceability disclosure of these listed products: wood, cocoa, oil palm, soy, rubber, coffee and cattle.”
He expressed the appreciation of the association to the good disposition of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, representing the Federal Government of Nigeria and the 9th National Assembly, who acted on a motion presented by one of the House of representatives member from Lagos State, and directed the FMARD as it was known then and FMITI to look into the issues raised by CFAN.
He said, it showed that the Nigeria cocoa industry worth 770 million USD will be at risk if we do not take urgent steps to solve some sustainability issues like deforestation and traceability.
“However, we have continued to take some positive steps to make Nigeria cocoa sector sustainable as a leading and largest smallholder cocoa farmers organization, in collaborations with relevant stakeholders and partners in the last 5 years.
“All these collaborations have yielded positive results for the industry in the 3 key index areas of sustainable development ; social – economic and environmental which guaranteed a promising future for our cocoa value chain.

According to him, the association has embarked on advocacy and capacity trainings for cocoa farmers in the areas of the protection of the ecosystem, based on the production of deforestation-free cocoa and protection of the rights of labours and children.
“These trainings were done in partnership with other stakeholders across the cocoa producing communities tagged: Cocoa Farmers Roundtable Conference.
“The initiative brought together all cocoa operators in each cocoa producing states e. g farmers, local buying agents, buyers, processors, exporters, extentionists, policy makers, inputs providers, researchers etc.

“The trainings also dwelt on good cocoa production practices e.g safe usage of cocoa inputs, application of approved pesticides in cocoa farm, climate change & mitigation, cocoa agroforestry practices, child labour eradication and sustainable farm management.

“Due to the critical role finance plays in cocoa production and productivity, the Association had sourced funding for cocoa farm maintenance in the year 2021 through the Central Bank of Nigeria -Anchor Borrowers Program scheme, in order to sustain and expand cocoa investment productivity.
“It has a single digit interest rates and disbursed to 10 cocoa producing States of Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Kwara, Cross River, Abia, Edo, Osun, Ogun and Delta. One of the requirements of the loan facility was that each of the beneficiaries farms must be mapped.

“About 1,227 cocoa farmers benefitted from the CBN-ABP loan which amounted to N723 million above at 1% less N600,000 per beneficiary, while the number of hectares covered by the scheme was at 3 hectares per beneficiary, totally 3,681 hectares across the 10 beneficiaries States.

“This was the first sustainable loan given to cocoa farmers of Nigeria nationally in the last 20 years. The loan, after two years of disbursement and continuous repayment by the beneficiaries, has steadily increased the productivity of the beneficiaries farms by 30% and sustainable practices by 70% based on the independent survey report conducted by reputable consultant.
He indicated that the survey was facilated by the CBN to appraise the performance of the loan and it’s foot print across the beneficiaries communities.
“Most beneficiaries are alive and can also testify to the huge success of the loan scheme.

“CFAN also organized the first privately driven and publicly enabled Nigerian Cocoa Summit & Award in order to find workable solutions to the issues affecting the cocoa industry.
“This summit was in partnership with relevant government ministries, agencies and private sector operators.

“The Summit brainstormed extensively on the EUDR coming to force, living Income deferential, national cocoa plan, inadequate local cocoa processing, value addition & consumption and the need for Nigeria to have a cocoa regulatory framework that will drive the industry, rather than the system being on autopilot that has not helped the growth of the sector.
“The summit communique was released to the public. CFAN continuous advocacy led to the Nigerian delegation to Ghana on fact finding mission.
“The delegation to Ghana was mandated by the FMAFS to study how Ghanaian cocoa economy is being run and how Nigeria could benefits from their wealth of experience as the second largest producer of cocoa in the world.

“The report of the 5 man delegation to Ghana, led to the inauguration of the 11 man National Cocoa Management Committee on the 2nd August, 2022 by the former Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, now Food Security, Mohammad Abubakar.
“The Minister said in his inauguration speech that it was the outcry of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, especially concerning living income and other demand such as cocoa regulatory framework, and the need for stakeholders to respond to the EUDR compliance that informed his decision to constitute and inaugurate the committee.
“The committee will oversee the affairs of the cocoa industry with her membership drawn across the cocoa supply chain.

“We are delighted that NCMC has since swung into action by mobilizing stakeholders in the sector to solve some sustainability issues e.g low production & productivity leading to poor income among cocoa farmers, child labor, deforestation, ecosystems mis-management, pesticides residue, infrastructural gaps, inadequate traceability system, low value addition, low cocoa processing, lack of access to finance, policy inconsistencies etc .
“These numerous challenges highlighted above are being handled by several partnership programs initiated by the NCMC since her inauguration with relevant supply chain operators. “Of recent,
He inducated that issues like the EUDR compliance, Nigeria Cocoa Plan and funding of the committee top the major agenda discussed at the parley, when the NCMC members paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari with the Minister of State and the Permanent Secretary.
At that parley, he said the Minister gave his full support to the committee, while he also restated the commitment of the present Administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the development of the Nigeria cocoa economy.
“Another interventions by CFAN is in the provision of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) book to cocoa farmers free of charge across the major and minor cocoa producing States in Nigeria.
“The Association collaborated with her partners in the areas of resourcefulness and funding for the publication of the GAP books, in order to make it free for our cocoa farmers.
“We appreciate the contributions of our partners to this project especially CRIN, EBAFOSA, Harvestfield Industries Ltd, ofi, Ooni of Ife Outreach, Starlinks Global & Ideal Ltd, Gbemtan Ltd, FMAFS, FMITI, but space cannot permit us to mention other company’s name one by one.”

“About 46,000 copies of the GAP book have been freely distributed so far.

“The Association is gearing up again to extend the distribution of the GAP book to the cocoa farmers in Kurmi Local Government of Taraba State, being one of the cocoa producing States in Northern Nigeria, having boundaries with the Cameroun.
“The most interesting thing about the GAP book is its interpretation in local languages that cut across the demographic spread of our cocoa plantations for wider understanding and accessibility to the cocoa farm gate.
“The donation of the GAP book free serves as an advocacy mechanism to inform cocoa players, particularly our cocoa farmers on EUDR domestication. “The book also advised cocoa farmers against deforestation and child labor practices that could undermine the future of our cocoa trade.
“The book addresses tropical issues like agroforestry, traceability and climate change and its impact on our ecosystems, while it offers practicable solutions for mitigation, resillency and adaptation.

“In order for CFAN to deepen her sustainability programs, especially as it concerned the strengthening of the collaboration among stakeholders, CFAN came up with the National Cocoa Festival event to replace the Nigerian Cocoa Farmers Day earlier celebrated by the Association in the year 2019 and 2021.

“The celebration of the 1st & 2nd National Cocoa Festival events took place in Ondo and Abuja, while the 3rd National Cocoa Festival event will now takes place in Calabar, Cross River State on the 23rd and 24th October, 2024.
“The festival has become platform to address the prevailing issues in the Nigeria cocoa industry.

“The issue of standard harmonization(SH) which is one of the requirements for due diligence statement (DDS) in each cocoa trading country has been taken care of by the Standard Organization of Nigeria, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and other stakeholders in collaboration with cocoa origin countries in West Africa under African Organization For Standardization (ARSO).

“CFAN believe in traceability through the mapping of her members farm plots and has made conscious effort to continue to geo-locate all her members cocoa farm plots gradually across the cocoa communities in Nigeria.

“No doubt, the Association is one of the partners to the U.S Department of Agriculture & Lutheran World Relief for Food for Progress Traceability and Resillence in Agriculture and Cocoa Ecosystems (TRACE) project, which is expected to contribute to the development and strengthening of the Nigerian cocoa traceability system.
“The project will also train our cocoa farmers on climate smart practices in order to enhance access to market.
“These six States are the only beneficiaries of the project; Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Abia. And will be finance to the tune of 22 million USD in the next five years.

“Moreover, the use of mapping to determine the traceability of our cocoa plantations location has been carried out by many of our exporters and processors through their sourcing companies operations in most cocoa communities.
“These companies used their sustainability programs to collect the bio-data of their cocoa farmers’ supplier through the mapping of their farmers’ farm plots e.g farmer’s identity, sex, family size, plot size(determining polygons, longitudes & latitudes), location, community etc in order to train them on sustainable practices with empowerment.

“In order to eradicate child labour practices in our cocoa supply chain, the Association deliberately partnered with organizations like International Labour Organization, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association and Lutheran World Relief through various community programs like ACCEL Africa, GALLAB , CLEAR etc. “These projects are specifically for the cocoa producing communities in Nigeria and Ondo State in particular, being the highest cocoa producing State and other high risk States in child labour practices.

“The programs identify the high risk cocoa communities in child labour with necessary advocacy deployed to tackle the issue headlong.
“Education is used as remediation tool by CLEAR project being sponsored by the Lutheran World Relief, through an intensive sensitization and support to both the parent and the vulnerable children in their communities, with necessary skill acquisitions and other empowerment training that would make them self reliant, while encouraging their children to go to school.”