Farmers urge Osun Govt to tap into coconut potential for job creation

Osun Farmers Call on State Government to Embrace Coconut Cultivation for Youth Employment and Economic Growth

A coalition of farmers has appealed to the Osun State Government to invest in large-scale coconut cultivation as a strategic solution to youth unemployment and rising insecurity.

The appeal was made on Wednesday in Osogbo by Pastor Adewumi Adeyemi, National Coordinator of the Knowledge is Power Coconut Growers and Processors Association of Nigeria, during a seminar aimed at promoting the economic and social value of coconut farming.

Adeyemi stated that the state could generate employment for up to 500,000 young people through the cultivation of coconut on just 10,000 acres of land, spanning the entire value chain from farming to processing.

“With ten thousand acres of land, we can create at least five hundred thousand jobs, from coconut cultivation through to processing and the development of value-added products,” he explained. “When young people are employed and have meaningful work, the rate of crime, including banditry and kidnapping, will decline significantly.”

He stressed the importance of knowledge dissemination, pointing out that the association’s name reflects its mission: to spread awareness about the economic potential of coconut farming.

“Coconut farming has the capacity to transform the state’s economy. Today’s seminar is focused on capacity building. We are laying the groundwork to collaborate with the state government to drive this initiative. Our goal is to empower the younger generation through this opportunity,” he said.

Adeyemi also urged the public to consider agriculture as a viable livelihood, suggesting that coconut farming can be integrated with other crops such as yam, cassava, and maize to improve household income.

“The leadership within our association possesses the necessary expertise. We are ready to support the government in establishing a Coconut Development Association that can significantly enhance the state’s internally generated revenue. The potential of coconut-based products is vast,” he added.

In his remarks, Mr Maruf Olawale, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, represented by Mr Olatunbosun Idris, lamented that the economic potential of coconut has been largely ignored in Nigeria, despite its parallels with cocoa, a crop that has long played a key role in the country’s economy.

He said, “It is unfortunate that while countries across the world are leveraging coconut for economic development, Nigeria is yet to fully explore its benefits.”

Hon Jayeoba Alagbada, the Chairman and organiser of the seminar, echoed this sentiment, describing coconut as one of the most lucrative cash crops globally. He noted that farmers interested in the sector could access loans through the Bank of Agriculture and the Bank of Industry to facilitate their entry into the coconut value chain.

In his address, Comrade Bisi Olaniyan, the Osun State Coordinator of the association, commended the national body for organising the mid-edition seminar in the state. He praised the event for bringing together experts, farmers, and key stakeholders to exchange insights and best practices for building a robust coconut farming industry in Osun.