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…Makinde Administration Partners IITA, CRIN, Private Sector in Cocoa Restoration Project As El Metador Eyes 900 Hectares Expansion
In a deliberate move to reposition agriculture as the engine of economic growth and reclaim its historical dominance in cocoa production, the Oyo State Government has unveiled a comprehensive Cocoa Restoration Project to produce and distribute one million improved cocoa seedlings across key cocoa-producing communities in the state.
The strategic initiative, validated on Monday, 31st August 2026, at the Akinwumi Adesina Youth Agripreneur Building, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Ibadan, is being driven through a strong Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model involving the Oyo State Government, IITA, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN, and leading private investors.
Speaking at the Strategic Stakeholders Engagement, the Director-General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, OYSADA, Dr. Debo Akande, said the project represents Governor Seyi Makinde’s intentional commitment to revamp the cocoa sector and deliver direct benefits to farmers and the state economy.
“The end game for what we are doing is for us to contribute another one million cocoa trees to what currently exists. The Oyo State Government wants to ensure that we have another one million cocoa trees,” Dr. Akande stated.
“This may mean revamping what currently exists, and it will also mean a new set of cocoa trees within the state. This is driven by demand from the private sector. They are interested in not just the production of cocoa but also the processing of cocoa.”
He emphasized that the strength of any agricultural revolution lies in its seed system, noting that the first year of the project will focus on multiplying new, high-yielding varieties developed by IITA and CRIN before distribution to farmers anchored by private investors.
“This is majorly funded by the Oyo State Government. It is Oyo State Government funds that form the majority in this. It shows how much the Oyo State Government is putting its money where its mouth is,” he added.
Giving a breakdown of the implementation model, a Key Scientist on the project from IITA, Dr. Patrick Adebola, said the intervention was designed to address decades of decline caused by aging trees, use of old varieties, and poor agricultural practices.
“This project is about restoring the old glory of cocoa in Oyo State,” Dr. Adebola said.
“First, we want to address the issue of planting materials. We want to produce about one million improved cocoa seedlings which we are going to distribute to farmers in Oyo State. The distribution will be in a ratio of 75% going to private investors while 25% will go to small-scale farmers in Oyo State.”
According to him, Oluyole Local Government and other major cocoa-producing LGAs have been identified for the first phase of implementation.
In a major boost for youth and women empowerment, Dr. Adebola disclosed that 30 youths will be trained as ‘Nursery Operators’ in partnership with CRIN to build a sustainable and profitable seedling production business. Youths and women will also be prioritized in new plantation establishment and rehabilitation.
“We are going to work hand in hand with CRIN to produce the ‘T-Series’, highly improved cocoa genetic materials. CRIN is the custodian of these materials,” he explained.
To ensure transparency and prevent diversion, the project will deploy digital tools.
“We will profile them and profile their farms. We will map their farms. All farmers will be registered on the platform, and whatever seedlings we distribute will be captured for follow-up and monitoring,” Dr. Adebola stated.
“We are working with CIFAN, Oyo State Chapter. They will identify and recommend the real farmers to the project. We want to work with real farmers and not political farmers.”
Key milestones validated at the meeting include the production of one million seedlings in year one, training of 30 nursery operators, and onboarding of three private investors to take up 75% of the targeted hectares.
Signaling strong investor confidence, the private sector pledged massive investment to scale production and processing.
Mr. Charles Fasina, Head of Sustainability, El Metador Nigeria Limited, described the government’s move as “very laudable” and critical for industrialization.
“The concept of cocoa rejuvenation and regeneration in Oyo State is very laudable. This will open up opportunities for businesses, youth engagement, and industrialization,” Mr. Fasina said.
He revealed that his company is targeting the 900 hectares earmarked for expansion under the project.
“The target is to ensure that Oyo State increases its quota of the national production. National production stands around 350,000 tons per year, and Oyo State is like the fourth producer. We are looking at leveraging the total area that is being targeted, which is 900 hectares, for expansion.”
Mr. Fasina also highlighted plans to ensure traceability and better premiums for farmers.
“When farmers’ produce is traceable, we will provide the platform for them to aggregate their crops. When they come together as a union, it will provide more value and more premium to them. Many farmers are not currently enjoying premium from cocoa production.”
The Cocoa Restoration Project aligns with the Oyo State Agriculture Roadmap 2019 and broader federal interventions including SAPZ, L-PRES, and N-CARES. Stakeholders at the meeting noted that agriculture has moved “beyond fetish notions of culture but a reality for diverse interventions.”
With focus on infrastructure, logistics, data, and feeder roads under L-PRES and SAPZ, the state government is positioning Oyo as a hub for agribusiness, processing, and export.
“This cocoa project is key to the government’s mandate to break and bring good people of Oyo State,” one of the working documents from the meeting noted. “This is not an accidental action but intentional.”
Agriculture experts say the project could significantly improve the livelihoods of over 70% of rural dwellers in cocoa communities who depend solely on farming, while also positioning Oyo State to compete favorably in the national and global cocoa market.
With timelines already set and partners committed, the Makinde administration says the seed farms will determine when farmers begin to see direct output, but the foundation for a revived cocoa economy in Oyo State has now been firmly laid.
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