Ogun State Government has announced plans to establish Scheduled Agricultural Produce Reserves across the three senatorial districts to provide legitimate and de-risked land for cash-crop farmers, particularly cocoa producers, as the state moves into the 2026 main crop season.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, disclosed this yesterday, saying that the initiative was part of government’s efforts to address forest encroachment while promoting sustainable agricultural production.

He spoke at the Annual Cocoa Pre-Season and Stakeholders’ Forum of the Department of Produce Services, with the theme: “Scheduled Agricultural Produce : Productivity,Quality, Traceability and Global Market Access” in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Owotomo who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Lydia Fajohunbo, said the government had distributed thousands of high-yielding, disease-resistant cocoa seedlings across the 20 local government areas.

He added that the Dapo Abiodun led administration also provided subsidised fertilisers, agro-chemicals and mechanisation support to farmers, while announcing plans to procure additional motorcycles for the Department of produce services to improve field inspection, and anti-smuggling operations.

“We are not just growing cocoa, we are growing wealth, the forum is a strategic platform where we chat the course for a more productive,more profitable and more sustainable cocoa season for the state”, the commissioner said.

Owotomo urged stakeholders to embrace traceability, quality grading and zero-deforestation farming, noting that the origin of cocoa has become increasingly important in the international market, particularly with the EU Deforestation Regulation deadline and the 8th International Cocoa Agreement.

He commended farmers and other stakeholders for maintaining the quality of Ogun cocoa last season, saying the state’s produce retained its top international rating, attracted premium prices and generated valuable foreign exchange.

The commissioner said that the future of Ogun cocoa was bright, urging stakeholders to work together to move from producing cocoa beans to creating greater wealth through local value addition and direct access to international market.

In her own remarks, Fajohunbo pointed out that the meeting was a wake-up call ahead of the 2026 main crop season, stressing that quality, quantity and traceability were critical to enabling Ogun’s scheduled produce to meet international market demands and attract higher premiums.

She urged stakeholders in the produce sector to comply with quality standards, grading and traceability requirements to boost the state’s agricultural produce in the international market.

The Permanent Secretary noted that the state had recorded increased compliance with produce grading regulations, improved evacuation records and greater adoption of proper documentation and quality standards among stakeholders over the past year.

She further called on stakeholders to comply strictly with produce rules and regulations, adding that the Department of Produce Services is responsible for quality assurance, grading, monitoring and anti-smuggling activities across the state.

Fajohunbo also commended stakeholders for their cooperation with ministry officials, saying the collaboration had contributed to smooth operations, increased tonnage and improved revenue.

Earlier, the Director, Produce Services, Mr Adedeji Somade identified productivity, quality, traceability and global market access as key priorities for the 2026 produce season, stressing the need for stronger operational support to effectively deliver on its mandate

Somade highlighted critical challenges affecting operations, including severe understaffing following retirements and promotions, inadequate office accommodation across zonal headquarters, and insufficient logistics appealing for two operational vehicles and six additional motorcycles to improve field monitoring and combat produce smuggling

He thanked the Permanent Secretary and Commissioner for the ongoing multi-million-naira rehabilitation of its zonal office in Abeokuta, describing the intervention as vital to improving service delivery.

The Annual Cocoa Pre-season programme also featured free medical screening for participants, a novelty match among stakeholders and presentation of awards of recognition to deserving individuals and groups.