The Ondo State Government says it is establishing nurseries to raise seedlings for planting of 10 million trees in forest reserves across the state in its afforestation efforts.
Mr. Olaleye Akinola, Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, disclosed this at a news conference on Saturday, November 8, 2025, in Akure, the state capital.
Akinola explained that some of the tree seedlings would also be given free-of-charge to farmers, but would be monitored for two years to ensure its survival.
“Ondo State Government will not leave replanting in the hands of those who contributed to deforestation without proper supervision.
“This administration is fully committed to balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.
“We are taking these steps to secure our forests, protect our climate, and sustain livelihoods for generations to come,” he said.
The commissioner, who said there was no going back on the government forest policy, said only cocoa farmers who planted trees in their farms would be allowed to remain in the government forest reserves.
The state government proposed framework policy requires each farmer to pay a levy of N250,000 per hectare, N150,000 for polygon mapping and N100,000 for agro-forest.
According to Akinola, the levy is charged to cover major expenses of carrying out these assignments that will remove Ondo State from the red zone in cocoa farming.
“Cocoa from Ondo State will not be allowed into global market if the forest policy is not properly carried out by December 2025.
“The policy started in 2020, and was to take full effect in 2024 but extended to 2025. It aims at ensuring that all cocoa, cashew and rubber farmers are properly mapped and registered.
“By December, only cocoa farmers with traceable farms will be eligible to sell their produce in line with global market and European Union traceability standards.
“This initiative is not about punishing anyone. It is about protecting the future of our farmers and meeting global sustainability requirements.
“We cannot continue to lose our forest cover while expecting to sell to international buyers who now demand proof of deforestation-free products,” the commissioner said.
Akinola disclosed that the state government was preparing a new legislation to be forwarded to the State House of Assembly for categorisatipn of forest areas into three distinct zones.
He listed the three zones to include the Core Zone, where tree planting and regeneration would take place; the Sustainability Zone, where regulated farming such as cocoa and rice farming would continue.
Akinola said the third and last zone was the Buffer Zone reserved for future agricultural expansion.
According to him, mapping and monitoring activities are already ongoing with government partnering accredited firms to use advanced technology for farm traceability.
“All yearly revenue collection relating to the process has been suspended until next year to ease farmers’ participation in the ongoing process,” he said.
By Muftau Ogunyemi