Osun boosts agricultural output as Adeleke reports expansion in cocoa, cashew, oil palm farming

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has expressed satisfaction with the growth recorded in the state’s agricultural sector, highlighting significant expansion in cocoa, cashew, and oil palm cultivation over the past three years.

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, in Osogbo.

The governor said the development formed part of a broader sectoral review of his administration’s performance since 2023, following earlier assessments of road and sports infrastructure achievements.

Receiving the agricultural sector report, Adeleke said his administration’s cocoa expansion initiative had recorded major progress, with about 400,000 cocoa seedlings planted since the beginning of his tenure.

He noted that the seedlings were distributed to farmers at heavily subsidised rates, adding that Osun was on course to reclaim its position among Nigeria’s leading cocoa-producing states ahead of Ondo and Cross River.

According to him, the state is also intensifying efforts to develop agro-processing infrastructure to strengthen the cocoa value chain and boost industrial utilisation.

On cashew production, the governor disclosed that the extension programme had recorded notable success with 80,000 seedlings planted within the same period, describing the initiative as a “game changer” for agricultural diversification.

He added that the state also planted 60,000 oil palm seedlings, stressing that the three crops remain central to Osun’s strategy for economic diversification and food security.

“We want Osun to be known not only for cocoa but also as a hub for cashew and oil palm production,” he said.

Adeleke also highlighted progress in mechanised farming, noting that the state government procured 31 tractors deployed across local governments to support farmers at subsidised rates.

He explained that although the administration planned to acquire 117 tractors in phases, the plan was affected by what he described as constraints linked to the seizure of local government funds.

Despite this, he said the available tractors had cultivated about 4,511 acres of farmland since 2025, describing it as a significant improvement in agricultural mechanisation compared to previous administrations.

The governor further stated that farmers across the state had benefited from multiple rounds of agricultural inputs since the inception of his administration, describing his government as “pro-farmers in orientation and policy.”

He also commended the Osun State Farmers’ Association for endorsing his administration, attributing the support to ongoing reforms and improved productivity in the agricultural sector.

Adeleke reaffirmed his commitment to expanding agricultural investment, improving rural livelihoods, and strengthening value chains to enhance food production and economic growth in the state.