Farmers in Osun State have been urged to focus on mass production of cocoa and other farm produce in a bid to improve the economic status of the state at a time of dwindling revenue from oil.
The State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, made this call while speaking at the launch of medical equipments facilitated through AD King Foundation, Atlanta, USA by the authorities of Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state.
According to Mrs. Laoye-Tomori, the continuous nose-diving in revenue accruable to the nation arising from acute shortfall in oil price makes it imperative for states in Nigeria to look inward for potentials inherent in agricultural practice.
The State Deputy Governor said the present administration in the state under Governor Rauf Aregbesola has taken some measures which include establishment of Cocoa Marketing Board to resuscitate cocoa production in the state as well as other agricultural produce such as coffee and plantain, among others.
Mrs. Laoye-Tomori recalled the days of Western Region when cocoa was the mainstay of economy of the region and how it was exploited for overall development especially in the area of education, social and infrastructural development.
