Gov Aiyedatiwa reaffirms commitment to sustainable agriculture, forest protection

……FAO pushes stronger land governance, traceability for premium export access

By Tolulope Eniola

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustainable agriculture, food security and forest conservation through strategic collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and other development partners.

The governor stated this on Tuesday during the opening of the 2nd FAO Participatory Informed Learning Approach (PILA) Multi-Stakeholders Workshop organised by the FAO GEF-7 Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR-IP) Nigeria Project, in Akure.

Aiyedatiwa described the workshop as a landmark event aimed at promoting integrated landscape management and sustainable food systems in the Niger Delta region, with focus on Ondo and Cross River states.

He commended the organisers, including the FAO-PILA Team, National Project Management Unit (NPMU), Ondo State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) and other stakeholders, for driving the initiative geared towards transforming cocoa and oil palm production systems towards sustainability and resilience.

The governor also appreciated the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security as well as the Federal Ministry of Environment for supporting the implementation of the project.

According to him, the project is currently being implemented in eight local government areas of Ondo State, namely Akure South, Idanre, Ondo West, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, Owo, Odigbo, Okitipupa and Irele, with nearly 14,000 smallholder cocoa and oil palm farmers already profiled.

Aiyedatiwa noted that the FAO GEF-7 project had provided Geographic Information System (GIS) equipment for the establishment of a GIS laboratory in the Ondo State REDD+ Unit, describing the intervention as significant for geospatial analysis, forest mapping and effective landscape management.

He further highlighted other interventions under the project, including the supply of agroforestry and timber seedlings, training of agricultural extension officers and farmers on climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry practices, polygon mapping for farmers in line with European Union Deforestation Regulation compliance, as well as sensitisation campaigns on integrated land management and customary land titling.

The governor disclosed that the upgrading of the Forestry Unit nursery garden at Aponmu in Akure South Local Government Area was ongoing, with facilities such as boreholes and agroforestry seedling infrastructure already being put in place.

He stressed that the Niger Delta rainforest ecosystem remained one of Africa’s most valuable natural assets but warned that unchecked expansion of cocoa and oil palm cultivation had contributed to massive deforestation and forest degradation.

To address the challenge, Aiyedatiwa said his administration had constituted a committee on forest management to oversee and monitor activities within forest reserves in order to preserve the state’s environmental heritage and improve residents’ livelihoods.

The governor also revealed that the state had inaugurated a Strategic Committee on European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) compliance to align Ondo State’s cocoa sector with emerging global standards on deforestation-free cocoa production, agroforestry and restoration of degraded forests.

He urged stakeholders at the workshop to embrace the PILA approach to integrated landscape management, particularly its focus on land use planning, governance frameworks, agroecological transition pathways and responsible certification standards.

Aiyedatiwa expressed optimism that the FAO GEF-7 project would continue to support Ondo State in achieving food security, sustainable cocoa and oil palm value chains, conservation of forest ecosystems and improved livelihoods for farmers.

He added that the state government would strengthen its support for the project through improved co-financing to ensure the successful implementation of its objectives.

Earlier, the National Coordinator of FAO in Nigeria, Dr Nifesmi Ogunkua, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to promote sustainable land use, agroforestry and improved access to international markets for cocoa and oil palm farmers in Ondo State.

Ogunkua explained that FAO remained responsible for the technical quality and overall delivery of the project while working with national institutions to ensure sustainable impacts.

She noted that the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria serves as the executive partner through the National Project Management Unit and State Implementation Unit under the global programme being implemented across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

According to her, the programme seeks to transform food systems through sustainable agriculture, reduction of deforestation and land degradation, ecosystem restoration, improved livelihoods and environmental governance.

She said Ondo State occupies a strategic position in Nigeria’s cocoa landscape and could emerge as a leading model for sustainable and climate-resilient cocoa production if stronger land use planning, agroforestry systems, forest conservation and farmers’ access to fields are prioritised.

Ogunkua stated that agroforestry aligns with national priorities and global market requirements, including the European Union Deforestation Regulation which demands traceability, sustainable sourcing and deforestation-free commodity production.

She appealed to the Ondo State Government to strengthen land governance systems, support customary land tenure recognition, establish local land allocation and trustee committees and improve access to finance for smallholder farmers.

The FAO coordinator also advocated sustainable land zoning frameworks for forest reserves, buffer zones and high conservation value areas to boost biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration.

She warned that increased cocoa and oil palm production would amount to little if farmers could not access premium international markets through traceability and certification systems.

Ogunkua commended the Ondo State Government for providing an enabling environment and disclosed that a GIS facility had been established in the state, describing the initiative as “Ondo State’s own project” with FAO providing technical oversight to ensure global standards.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Olayeye Akinola, said the workshop focused on Integrated Landscape Management Plan, Integrated Land Use Plan, tenure and customary land titling, governance frameworks, agroecological transition pathways, responsible standards and certification, as well as spatial planning through participatory knowledge sharing.

He explained that the workshop was designed to strengthen stakeholders’ alignment, enhance institutional collaboration and identify practical measures to support sustainable land use, agricultural food systems and effective environmental management.

Akinola appreciated the organisers and acknowledged the presence of government officials, participants from ministries, departments and agencies, academic institutions, research institutes, traditional institutions, farmers’ groups, women groups, private sector players in cocoa and oil palm production, development partners and other dignitaries.

He also welcomed the FAO PILA team from Rome and officials of the FAO GEF-7 project from national and international offices.

The commissioner commended the collaborative role of the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Federal Ministry of Environment, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, the National Project Management Unit and the State Project Implementation Unit for the successful take-off and coordination of the project in Ondo State since March 2024.

He further appreciated the National Project Management Unit for selecting Ondo State as the headquarters of the initiative.

Speaking on the project objectives, Akinola said the FAO GEF-7 FOLUR-IP Project was aimed at transforming the Niger Delta cocoa and oil palm production systems towards sustainability and resilience through integrated landscape management systems, sustainable and inclusive value chains, conservation and restoration of degraded forest ecosystems, knowledge management, as well as monitoring and evaluation.

He assured that the Ondo State Government would continue to strengthen partnership with the FAO GEF-7 project and other stakeholders to promote sustainable cocoa and oil palm value chains and create resilient systems for regeneration and conservation of degraded forest landscapes.

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning who represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Stephen Aworere, also commended the FAO-GEF Nigeria project for promoting sustainable land use, integrated landscape management and value chains in cocoa and biofuel production.

On his part, Femi Haastrup, speaking on behalf of Director-General Professor Zachary Uba-Yaduma, praised the partnership with FAO, commended achievements recorded under the initiative and called for stronger collaboration to enhance Nigeria’s global recognition in sustainable forestry and agricultural development.

Also speaking, the Chairman of ALGON, Gbenga Fasua, assured that the eight benefiting local governments would support, secure and sustain the project.

In his goodwill message, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, represented by Folorunsho Filani, described the Land and State Management Plan as a holistic approach combining land management practices with environmental and social considerations for sustainable development and ecosystem resilience.

The monarch noted that the plan cuts across communities and ethnic groups and urged Nigeria to move faster in maximising opportunities for economic advancement and transatlantic trade diversification.

He appealed for sustained support, more incentives from stakeholders and easier access to loans for agricultural expansion.

Among dignitaries at the event were the Deputy Governor, Olayide Adelami; Chief of Staff, Segun Omojuwa; local government chairmen and traditional rulers.