As the planting season nears, Johnvents Group has distributed more than 266,000 cocoa seedlings and 6,000 shade tree seedlings to farmers across 11 cocoa-producing states in Nigeria, in a large-scale effort to promote sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
The distribution, executed under the company’s flagship sustainability program, *Project Nourished Crop, Better Farmer*, aims to equip farmers ahead of the rainy season—an essential period for cocoa planting and farm regeneration. The initiative, which has so far reached over 9,000 farmers, is designed to help rehabilitate, regenerate, and replant cocoa farms to ensure long-term productivity and food security.
The widespread effort targeted key cocoa-producing states including Cross River, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, and Abia. In Cross River’s Ikom region alone, 61,000 seedlings were distributed. In Ondo State, 50,000 seedlings went to Idanre and Oda, with an additional 20,000 and 10,000 going to Owo and Ile-Oluji, respectively. Other notable distributions include 5,000 seedlings in Ila, Osun State; 15,000 each in Ekiti and Ogun States; and 20,000 seedlings in Ife, along with 10,000 in Akwa Ibom and Abia States.
Ebenezer Kehinde, the company’s Sustainability Country Lead, emphasized the strategic timing and impact of the program. “This initiative is part of our yearly commitment to the farming communities. As we approach the rainy season, it’s crucial that our farmers are fully equipped. This seedling distribution provides them with the essential tools, including seedlings, farm seeds, and sustainable farming practices, to help boost their productivity for the season ahead.”
The inclusion of both cocoa and shade trees underlines Johnvents’ commitment to environmentally sound agriculture. Shade trees help maintain ecological balance, protect crops, and improve yields, while also reinforcing the company’s broader sustainability goals.
Through this initiative, Johnvents is not only addressing the immediate needs of farmers but also investing in the future of cocoa farming in Nigeria. The move supports improved farmer livelihoods, enhances food security, and contributes to the long-term growth of the cocoa industry both locally and globally.
An indigenous agribusiness and manufacturing conglomerate, Johnvents Group operates across the entire agricultural value chain from farming and production to processing, manufacturing, and distribution. Its business portfolio includes Johnvents Cocoa Factory, Johnvents Trading, Johnvents Foods, Johnvents Industries DMCC, Johnvents Farms, Premium Cocoa Product (Ile-Oluji), and Haven Hauling. Through these subsidiaries, the Group continues to drive sustainable agricultural development and export value for Africa.
