The Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA) and the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) have commended the Executive Director and CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, for her continued commitment to the growth of Nigeria’s cocoa industry.
This commendation follows the second donation of hybrid cocoa seedlings this year to cocoa farmers in Ondo State by the NEPC Ondo State Office, under the leadership of Mrs. Abe Iyabode.
The appreciation was expressed in a statement signed by Comrade Adeola Adegoke, National President of CFAN and Global President of COFAAA, made available to AgroNigeria on Wednesday.
According to the statement: “This gesture marks the second time this year the NEPC Ondo State Office has taken bold and pragmatic steps to increase cocoa production, productivity, and value in one of Nigeria’s leading cocoa-producing states.
“The donation of these seedlings to our members in Ondo State is a significant contribution toward that goal.”
Comrade Adegoke stated that Nigeria’s share of global cocoa production stands at about 6.5%, with current national output estimated between 280,000 to 300,000 metric tonnes (MTS) for the 2022–2024 cocoa season.
He noted that Ondo State alone accounts for approximately 40% of Nigeria’s total cocoa production, contributing around 90,000 MTS.
“Nigeria’s cocoa productivity per hectare is between 300kg and 450kg. Our total export value grew from $666.9 million (₦171 billion) in 2023 to approximately $0.78 billion (₦1.2 trillion).
” With the inclusion of cocoa butter and powder exports, the total value reached ₦2.212 trillion.
“This represents a 592.72% increase in value from the previous year, driven by the sharp rise in global cocoa prices (NBS data).”
He added that the current NEPC support aims to increase Ondo State’s cocoa output from 90,000 MTS to 150,000 MTS in the next two years, while contributing to the national target of 500,000 MTS within the same period.
Adegoke also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approving the re-establishment of the Cocoa Board, noting it would not be involved in the buying and selling of cocoa.
“This decision is a welcome development for an industry facing multiple challenges — including climate change, low productivity, poor access to finance, weak infrastructure, limited adoption of technology, pests and diseases, traceability issues, poor collaboration, a weak regulatory framework, low domestic processing, and minimal consumption.
“The new Cocoa Board, long demanded by industry stakeholders, will serve as a coordinating body to address these challenges through collaboration.”
He urged cocoa farmers who are beneficiaries of the NEPC gesture to ensure proper transplanting and care for the seedlings to maximise the benefits of the support, especially in light of the climate change impact on seedling survival.
“The need for best agronomic practices must be upheld. We must embrace smart cocoa production and place sustainability at the core of our industry going forward,” he stated.
