An agro-allied firm, the Barry Calllebaut Industry, has trained some farmers in Ondo State on the modern production of cocoa.
The company, which deals in cocoa products and chocolate said it was committed to making farmers in the state produce better quality cocoa and live a better life.
Speaking at a meeting with some cocoa farmers at Emiloro Village, in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, the Managing Director, Barry Calllebaut Industry, Mr Adriaan Verbeke, said the interface was to assist the farmers that had been working with the company.
During the programme, some farm implements and cash were distributed to the farmers who supplied cocoa produce to the company last season, in accordance with the level of their supply to the company.
He said, “The programme is to help farmers increase their livelihood and make sure that they increase their revenue. We make premiums for farmers that have supplied and worked together with us, next year, we will expand the program to many regions.
“The programme is at different stages, the first stage we have trained the farmers so that they are basically equipped to have the right tools to improve their use on their farms and also to have access to seedlings distributions . We have approximately trained 1000 this year.
The MD urged the Nigerian government to make sure they encourage young people into farming and make sure that farmers have increased and improve their production.
“I’ve seen different levels of farming and I must say, Ondo State has the understanding of what needs to be done, they have the right tools, seedlings and products, their level of farming is of good standards,” he said.
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