Nigeria used to be Africa’s pride when it comes to cocoa farming, but all of that has become history, as the nation can barely produce enough to support local production. 

Now, cocoa farmers are seeing chances that Nigeria could return to those glory days with just a few inputs they are recommending. 

Farmers
Participants during the 3rd Cocoa national festival in Calabar

Recently, the national cocoa festival held in Calabar, in the southern part of Nigeria.

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At the event, the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) urged the government to boost sustainable cocoa production.

CFAN called for stronger policies, local processing, and better support for farmers to secure the industry’s future.

The Nigeria’s third national cocoa festival had over 300 participants. Furthermore, the festival was a call to action for the government to enhance its role in sustainable cocoa production.

The CFAN President, Adeola Adegoke, emphasised the need for the government to prioritise local processing and consumption of cocoa products.

“We must strengthen our cocoa industry from within,” he stated, urging economic managers to adopt essential strategies that promote sustainability.

Read Also; Odu’a Investment Renovates Cocoa House After 59 years

Empowering Farmers For The Future

The association stressed that effective leadership from the government and the National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC) is crucial.

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They need to update data on the cocoa value chain to ensure all stakeholders are informed and aligned.

Also, the CFAN highlighted the importance of raising awareness about the European Union Deforestation Regulation.

Better-informed stakeholders can navigate these regulations, helping Nigeria’s cocoa farmers remain competitive globally.

To empower farmers, CFAN proposed capacity-building programs focusing on safe agrochemical handling and crop diversification.

They recommended creating a national cocoa policy to guide these efforts.

Improving infrastructure in rural cocoa-growing areas is critical, CFAN asserted.

They also called for a review of the land tenure system to give farmers the security they need to invest in their land.

Finally, CFAN urged collaboration with leading cocoa-producing countries to share strategies for growth.

They emphasised the need for platforms that attract young people to the cocoa value chain, offering training in skills like chocolate production and cocoa processing.

With determination and collaboration, Nigeria’s cocoa industry can thrive, supporting both the economy and the environment for future generations.

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