Taraba Govt To Partner NGO To Boost Cocoa Production
By Mohammed Sambo
Cocoa farming and processing in Taraba State is be improved to align with the international best practices for maximum benefits through the value chain.
This was part of the out come of the meeting between the local cocoa farmers and the delegation of the state Government as well as foreign partners, and stakeholders in Abong, Kurmi local Government Area of the state.
The meeting is between the Taraba State Government’s delegation, the United States based Nongovernmental Organization, Agro Forestry Impact and Regeneration Team, and Local Cocoa farmers and processors to chat how best to align with Global best practices in the interest of the state and the local farmers.
Leader of the Delegation, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor who is overseeing the Deputy Governor’s office, Dr Emmanuel Lawson, says Taraba State Government through foreign partners are working out ways in ensuring that the state is properly captured amongst the global cocoa market.
He called on the farmers in Abong, Kurmi Local Government Area of the state to support and cooperate with the foreign partners who are on ground to introduce advanced Cocoa farming practices that will not only put Taraba state on the Road Map of Development but enhance mutual benefits in the value chain.
President of the United States based Nongovernmental organization, Agro Forestry Impact and Regeneration,
Diana Doheny, and her team
said they are in kurmi Local Government Area to meet with the real local cocoa farmers and as well visit the production sites to carry out feasibility studies and ascertain the quality of production and the soil with a view to knowing the exact techniques that would be applied for healthy and wealthy production.
She informed the farmers that based on her organization’s collaboration with the State Government, Agro Forestry Impact and Regeneration has a lot to offer to the real Cocoa farmers at the production sites and by extension Taraba state Government and the nation as a whole when the real training begins.
Michael Meyer, a team member, and Francis Bosah, African Technical Director of Agro-Forestry in their presentations said the exercise is a complete package that will cover registration of farmers at the grass root and training on modern farming techniques with multiple benefits.
Chairman, Kurmi Local Government Council, Moses Mai Hankali, Commended the State Government for the initiative, promising the support of the Council for the good of his people.
The Permanent Secretary House of Assembly Service Commission,
Juliana Tafida, Chairman Cocoa Farmers Association Taraba State, Haruna Adamu and some community leaders, promised to support the initiative.
There was a demonstration on some techniques that will be applied in the near future when the real training begins.
