Determined to reverse the downward trend in the Nigeria’s cocoa production, the federal government had distributed 300,000 hybrid cocoa seedlings to farmers in four geopolitical zones, where cocoa is being produced, through the Federal Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Nanono, stated this at the inauguration of the National Secretariat of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) in Akure, the Ondo State capital on 26 July, 2021. The ED CRIN, Dr. Patrick Adebola and Director/Cocoa Programme Leader, Dr. A.R. Adedeji, represented CRIN at the event. Other agricultural inputs distributed includes 350 cartons of Ultimax-plus and 500units of Solo pumps. According to the minister, the gesture of the federal government was part of the efforts to develop the agricultural sector, increase production, and encourage cocoa farmers. The minister urged the farmers’ association to continue contributing meaningfully to increase production and productivity despite “daunting challenges so as to move cocoa production to a desirable level and improve the livelihood of our cocoa farmers and other actors in the value chain.” In his remarks, the state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who was represented by his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at the event, stated that the state had been promoting local consumption of cocoa produced in the state. Speaking also at the programme, the National Chairman of CFAN, Mr. Adeola Adegoke, sought more assistance from the government in the area of cocoa inputs subsidisation for his members’ farmers.