The Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr. Leye Akinola, has disclosed the ministry’s plan to facilitate the amendment of the 1954 forestry gazetted law, through the state House of Assembly to allow farming activities in some parts of forest reserves due to population growth in the state.
The commissioner made this disclosure while addressing stakeholders at a convention in Elegbeka and Ifon in Ose Local Government Area of the state.
The meeting which focused on compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), engaged farmers on the need to support measures put in place to ensure the acceptability of cocoa beans produced in Ondo, into the European market, being the largest cocoa producer in Nigeria, accounting for over 40% of cocoa exports from the country.
Engr. Leye therefore, urged farmers in forest reserves to cooperate with consultants handling polygon mapping and agroforestry initiatives required for the EUDR compliance. He also informed the arable farmers in Elegbeka community, to maintain good relationships with their hosts and respect the customs and traditions of the host community. He added that all farmers would have their farms mapped and the government would provide indigenous trees for them to plant alongside their arable crops, which refers to agroforestry.
The Commissioner further explained that forest reserves would be divided into three zones: the sustainable zone, which will be marked for agroforestry; the core zone, which is prohibited from human activities; and the buffer zone, which will be decided by the Governor. He stated that indigenous tree seedlings would be established across various forestry zones in the state as part of EUDR conditions.
Engr. Akinola stressed that these initiatives were targeted to protect farmers’ interests and facilitate the entry of their produce into the international market, stressing the need for stakeholders to work together to ensure the program’s success before the December 31st deadline set by the European Union.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Ebira Matters, Ondo Northern Senatorial District, Mr. Fatai Temuche and the Adeule of Ifon, Chief Samuel Bamidele, appreciated the government’s gesture to allow farming activities in some parts of the forest due to population growth and other factors. The two community leaders promised to enlighten their people on the importance of protecting the forest through agroforestry initiatives and vowed to support the program’s goals.
