…Set to Commence Distribution of Subsidized Polyclonal Cashew Seedlings to Farmers

Ekiti State Government is set to commence distribution of subsidized Polyclonal Cashew seedlings to cashew farmers in the State as part of efforts at increasing productivity and access to markets.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade who made this known in Ado Ekiti, explained that the scheme which is being supported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is aimed at boosting trade of cashew by improving harvest and post-harvest techniques and supporting supply chain linkages between farmers and agro-food companies under the five-year PRO-Cashew USDA-funded development program.

According to him, PRO-Cashew project started in 2020 and will, over five years, support cashew farmers in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria to improve productivity and access to markets adding that Ekiti State became the first sub national in Nigeria to establish polyclonal cashew and scion garden at Erifun in Ado Ekiti in June 2023.

Boluwade stressed the commitment of the Oyebanji’s administration to make the state sustainable in polyclonal cashew seedlings production after the exit of the USDA intervention emphasizing that the aims is to leverage on Research and Development towards making the State one of the highest cashew producing states within the next few years.

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Noting that Polyclonal seedlings mature fast and have resilience than seedlings propagated using seeds, Boluwade assured that the State Government would subsidize the cost of the seedlings by 50% to encourage and empower farmers in the State.

He advised interested farmers to contact the Tree Crops Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to benefit from the scheme, adding that beneficiaries’ farms must be within Ekiti State and owners must be able to provide reliable details about their farms for after sales services in order to achieve the desired goals.