Cocoa farmers in Ondo State's forest reserves have urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to review a new forest farming policy they describe as crippling. The policy requires hefty fees for mapping and agroforestry, alongside short-term permits, threatening their livelihoods. Farmers highlight disparities with large investors who receive favorable long-term leases.
On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, cocoa farmers operating within Ondo State's forest reserves submitted a petition to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, calling for an urgent review of the state's newly introduced forest farming policy. Represented by Prof. Olugbenga Oke, Principal Partner of Lawville Legal Practice, the farmers argue that the policy, which includes a Polygon Mapping Initiative and an Agro-Forestry Programme to comply with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), imposes unsustainable financial burdens.
Under the policy, each farmer must pay N250,000 per hectare, broken down into N150,000 for polygon mapping and N100,000 for agroforestry, in addition to obtaining a five-year farming permit. The Ministry of Agriculture has also raised the grading fee from N11,000 per tonne to N22,000 per kilo, equating to about ₦660,000 per trailer of cocoa—a cost the farmers deem prohibitive for small-scale operators.
The petition states: “While our clients appreciate the State Government’s commitment to environmental sustainability and global trade standards, the financial and structural implications of the policy are deeply burdensome and threaten their livelihoods.” Previously, farmers paid N20,000 per hectare, and they note that exporters often map farmlands for free in non-reserve areas. The N100,000 agroforestry levy is criticized as excessive, given that seeds for 1,000 trees cost only N5,000.
A key grievance is the disparity in permits: while peasant farmers receive five-year terms, large investors benefit from decades-long leases at lower rates. For instance, JB Farms Ltd holds a 50-year permit for 14,000 hectares in Ore-Otulrele Forest Reserve at N50 million annually (N3,572 per hectare); SAO Agro has an 80-year permit for 10,000 hectares at N20 million annually (N2,000 per hectare); and Tropic Palm Oil Ltd enjoys a 40-year permit for 14,000 hectares in Ute Owo Forest Reserve at N30 million annually (N2,150 per hectare). Cocoa trees, with a productive lifespan over 40 years, underscore the perceived injustice.
Farmers also bear the full cost of access roads and infrastructure. They request a downward review of the N250,000 levy to align with their economic realities, emphasizing their prior compliance and the policy's threat to employment for many formerly unemployed individuals.