Outspan Nigeria Limited, an agro-related company, has given farmers in Ondo State 2.2 million cocoa seedlings as the planting season begins.

The company stated that the gesture was part of its efforts to improve the state's agricultural sector and that it had formed a partnership with the state government to help farmers harvest cocoa of a high quality and quantity.

The donation was made by the company at the beginning of the cropping season in 2023, which took place in Imafon Community, which is in the state's Akure South Local Government Area.

Miss Agatha Ewolor, Head of Sustainability at Olam Food and Ingredients at Outspan Nigeria Limited, said in a statement about the gesture that it was part of the company's commitment to Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability to always support farmers and the business environment.

She said, “We will continue to do this as long as we can.  Last year, we were able to donate 2.2 million cocoa seedlings and we’ve been able to do the same thing this year, it is something we will always do.

“It is important that we partner with the Ondo State Government because, if we don’t partner with them, our farmers will not really feel our impact. The collaboration with the state government will show that we are there for our farmers”.

The state Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, who announced the program open, expressed that the occasion was set up to suggest ranchers with point by point data on the beginning of year 2023 cultivating exercises and to familiarize them with key government mediations in the agrarian area.

Mr. Lucky Ayedatiwa, Akeredolu's deputy, represented him. He said that the government was doing everything it could to help farmers overcome obstacles by making it easier for them to run their farm businesses in the state.

“To a very large extent, farmers can now go about their activities in their respective farms with reduced fear of molestation or attack. This has been made possible through the establishment of the Amotekun Corps that is putting in their best to protect the lives and property of our dear residents.

“Our intervention cuts across all areas in order to enhance productivity and ensure that farmers have good returns for their sweat. Very soon, you will begin to witness the rehabilitation of rural roads to improve access to farming communities by some of these intervention agencies. This is to facilitate the transportation of farm produce to areas where they can easily be sold in order to guide against post-harvest losses''

According to Akeredolu, "we shall not fold our arms and watch people plunder our forest resources and convert our commonwealth to personal use and gains," all encroachers and land grabbers should refrain from engaging in illegal activities on government land and forest reserves.

In his comments, the state Chief for Horticulture, Mr Olayato Aribo, made sense of that the event was a yearly occasion where the ranchers were being taught and presented to the different open doors accessible to them on better assortments of harvests, domesticated animals, establishing materials and great farming practices.

He went on to say that the state's current administration would do everything in its power to protect the state's farmers and the investments they make in their farms.