Ekiti State to benefit from $22m US-Funded cocoa rejuvenation program

June 23, 2025

The Ekiti State government has announced that the state will be one of six states in Nigeria to benefit from a $22 million cocoa rejuvenation program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This initiative is part of the USDA’s TRACE Project, which aims to boost cocoa production in the country through the distribution of high-quality seedlings and training for farmers.

The program kicked off with the distribution of 1,794 hybrid cocoa seedlings to selected communities in Ekiti State, including Odeyemi community in Ekiti West.

These seedlings belong to various clones, such as NT1, RV2, TC8, RV23, NT2, RV22, and RV1, and were provided to farmers free of charge.

According to the Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, the program is designed to support local farmers in increasing their cocoa yields and improving their livelihoods.

The commissioner noted that further distributions of seedlings are scheduled for communities in Ise and Omuo Ekiti, where farmers have already received training in climate-smart cocoa production.

To ensure accountability and monitor the progress of the seedlings, a seed tracker system has been deployed.

The commissioner emphasized that the TRACE Project’s objectives align with the state government’s 10-year plan to become one of the largest cocoa-producing states in Nigeria by 2034.

As part of the program, the Ministry of Agriculture plans to introduce high-yield tree species to cocoa farmers in the coming weeks.

The commissioner expressed optimism that the program would continue to support Ekiti farmers through the provision of hybrid and grafted seedlings until its conclusion in 2027.

The $22 million program is expected to have a significant impact on the state’s agricultural sector, particularly in the cocoa industry. With the support of the USDA and the state government, Ekiti farmers are poised to increase their productivity and contribute to the country’s economic growth.