Can forest conservation and agriculture coexist without undermining rural livelihoods?
A newly proposed forest policy is at the heart of a standoff between farmers and policymakers in Ondo State.
Introduced by the administration of Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the state governor, the Forest Farming Policy mandates cocoa farmers operating in the state’s forest reserves to pay ₦250,000 per hectare for a five-year agricultural permit.
Many smallholders have baulked against the “unreasonably high and discriminatory” fees, which they caution could take a severe toll on cocoa production.
Given cocoa’s price plunge from ₦14,000 to ₦6,000 per kilogramme in the past months, many farmers contend that the policy could hurt the market even further.
Others hint at the risk of pushing indigenous farmers out of business while favouring big investors with cheaper, decades-long leases.
Aligning with global green standards
According to the Nigerian government, the policy is in sync with the European Union Deforestation Regulation, which requires that products shipped to European markets comply with environmental policies and are not linked to deforestation.
With the ongoing brouhaha, can forest conservation and agriculture coexist without undermining rural livelihoods?
The tensions in Ondo mirror similar challenges across West Africa, where conservation policies have often clashed with community interests.
For example, agroforestry initiatives by the World Cocoa Foundation have enabled farmers in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire replant tree crops for shade and map farm boundaries using digital methods as well as sell their beans at premium prices through responsible sourcing programmes.
Without excluding small-scale farmers, this has boosted incomes while ensuring compliance with the EUDR standards.
A similar initiative is also afoot in Nigeria. Cocoa farming cooperatives, in partnership with the Rainforest Alliance and the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, have implemented farm mapping and reforestation methods, which enhance product traceability, drawing international buyers.
Balancing sustainability with survival
The Ondo State Government could follow this blueprint, too—funding mapping projects and including smallholder farmers’ representatives in the formulation of policies.
Working together with exporters and certification organisations is also vital, as it could help farmers meet EUDR standards without breaking the bank.
Such collaborations have yielded brilliant results in West Africa, boosting household incomes with sustainable cocoa clusters while cutting down deforestation rates dramatically.
This model could create a balance between green policy and economic fairness in the state.
Most smallholders in Ondo lack access to credit and information on international trade standards.
To avoid worsening economic inequalities, any well-intentioned environmental policy should be backed with transparent guidelines and incentives for small producers. This way, sustainability and survival can flourish.
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