Cocoa farmers operating within the various forest reserves owned by the Ogun State Government have been reminded to redeem their pledge of paying up the regeneration fee meant to revitalize the vast areas of land they have depleted.
Commissioner for Forestry, Alh. Adebayo Fari made the call while addressing cocoa farmers at Gbamugbamu village in the Area J3 Forest Reserve of the State.
It would be recalled that few months back, members of the State Chapter of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) willingly agreed to pay the sum of N300 on each bag of cocoa produced from the reserves following findings that over 100,000 out of 136,000 hectares at the Omo Forest Reserve had been depleted due to farming activities of illegal cocoa farmers.
Fari expressed government’s disappointment that months after reaching the agreement, the cocoa farmers had refused to reciprocate the magnanimity extended to accommodate them, regardless of their illegal conversion of the forest reserve into cocoa plantations.
He warned that government might be forced to wield the big stick, reminding them that in neighboring States those caught in such heinous acts were promptly evicted without any consideration or option.
Lamenting that their act does not only deprive the State of huge resources accruable from its forest resources, but also posed a serious environmental hazard, Fari implored them to commence payment immediately and obtain receipt at designated toll points to ensure accountability.
Ogun State Government Press Release
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