Stakeholders examine future of Nigeria’s cocoa industry

Nigeria's adherence to the EU's Deforestation Regulations has been pledged by the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria and other important parties.

For the cocoa industry to be sustainable, they emphasised the necessity of encouraging young people to participate in cocoa growing and processing through the growth of entrepreneurship.

At the 3rd National Festival in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, on Thursday, Adeola Adegoke, the association's national president, told reporters.

He pointed out that the festival's theme this year was specifically chosen to highlight the National Cocoa Management Committee's (NCMC) and others' role in enlisting stakeholders in EUDR compliance, as well as cocoa value addition and youth inclusion as essential components of the cocoa industry's sustainability in Nigeria.
He listed a number of problems that have impacted cocoa industry productivity and market share, including the fact that farmers are struggling with antiquated agricultural methods, restricted access to high-quality seedlings, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient investment in innovation and technology.

He pointed out that the festival's concept stems from cocoa's importance in supporting livelihoods, generating income, and creating job possibilities in the nation.

"The Cocoa industry players can network among themselves to facilitate the growth and development of the sector," he said, adding that the festival has always offered a chance to crystalize, finalise, and enhance developmental sustainability in ideas.

Adegoke revealed that this year's national cocoa festival had to be held in Calabar, Cross River State, because the first and second national cocoa festivals were held in Akure, Ondo State, and Abuja, respectively.

He praised the cooperation of Governor Bassey Otu, ICCO executive director Mitchel Arrion, stakeholders, and organisations for the partnership's decision to address environmental issues and implement the EUDR in order to expand and attract additional investment in the cocoa sector.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Johnson Ebokpo, on behalf of Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, complimented the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria on organising the cocoa festival and selecting his state as the host.

According to him, the state has strategic plans for the Cocoa industry for the next 7 years. He said the strategic plans are meant to address two major issues; the market system and sustainability in line with EUDR.

Otu noted, “For us in Cross River State, the microeconomic challenges we face today have thrown us into a state of multidimensional nature. And we have decided that cocoa is going to be our key and a major driver of economic development in the state. We have decided to take actions on policy development and to add value to Cocoa in compliance with EUDR”

He said that the state is currently producing about 58 to 62 thousand tonnes of cocoa annually and is cultivating about 123 thousand hectares of land with an average yield of 300 to 370 per hectare.
“We are equally reviewing the existing produce laws, which will soon be sent to the House of Assembly. The ultimate aim is to make us begin to add value. Whether we are doing it at the primary or secondary levels, because we want to create more jobs and draw direct foreign investors to the Cocoa industry”, he added.

He urged communities and traditional leaders to support young people's involvement in cocoa management, processing, and cultivation.

Daniel Asukwo, the event's chairman and a former member of the House of Representatives who represents the Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, stated that cocoa was and continues to be a symbol of Nigeria's agricultural prowess and that it was crucial in determining the country's economic development in the years following independence.

According to him, the festival's subject this year coincides with a critical period in which the cocoa industry is confronted with major obstacles on a national and international scale.

He continued, "Nigeria was historically a cocoa production powerhouse, ranking as the second-largest exporter and making a significant contribution to the global cocoa economy."

He said that farmers who are already having difficulty meeting export demands as a result of the naira's depreciation against major currencies will be empowered to satisfy global needs in accordance with new international standards, such as the EUDR.
According to him, the cocoa sector has been the backbone of Nigeria's agricultural economy, and the rising costs of imported equipment, fertilisers, and pesticides, which have resulted in lower profits, will be appropriately addressed.