Clarion Olusegun
The National President of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), Comrade Adeola Adegoke, believes Nigeria has the potential to surpass Ivory Coast and Ghana in cocoa production before 2026 if the government supports and partners with smallholder cocoa farmers.
Adeola expressed this optimism, stating that, “If smallholder cocoa farmers receive support and partnership from cocoa-producing state governments to irrigate our cocoa farms year-round in all cocoa-producing states in Nigeria, Nigeria’s goal of doubling the premium cocoa beans produced by Ivory Coast and Ghana is achievable before 2026.”
He made this known while speaking with AgroNigeria after the recent meeting of Nigerian Cocoa Stakeholders under the National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC), established by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to oversee the regulation of the cocoa industry in Nigeria.
During the committee’s 3rd meeting held in Akure, Ondo State, discussions centered on various cocoa industry issues, including domesticating EUDR regulations, addressing potential EUDR threats to the cocoa sector in Nigeria, ensuring transparency, traceability, and coordination within the cocoa industry, and implementing the National Cocoa Plan to boost Nigerian cocoa production.
Adeola emphasized Nigeria’s abundant resources, such as arable lands, a large youth population, research facilities, fertile soil, cocoa varieties, aroma, capacity, and private sector resilience, as key factors for achieving this goal.
He prayed that “may Nigeria’s dream of reclaiming its position as the top cocoa producer among cocoa origin countries become a reality before 2026.”
The meeting included 7 committee members, Dr. Patrick Adebola, Executive Director of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Mr. Ajayi Olutobaba, Deputy Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), Comrade Adeola, CFAN National President, Mr Mufutau Abolarinwa, President Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Prince Matins Awofisayo CEO Harvesfield Limited, and Mr. Williams Ifere, Cross River State Cocoa Desk Officer.
Also in attendance were LWR-TRACE(Chief of Party),Nene Akwerty, Prince Senator (Dr.) Gbolahan Dada FNIM ,who made a Presentation on Technology Driven Cocoa Production and Value Addition in Cocoa Products in Nigeria, Mr Jerry Oche, who had a presentation on European Union Regulation Compliance on Deforestation and the way forward.
Also, Mr Ayo Akinola presented on the Impending European Union threats to Nigerian Cocoa Bean/Products and the way forward.
Similarly, Mr Benjami Eze, Harvestfield Industries Limited whose presentation was on Organic Products for Cocoa.
The meeting highlighted the importance of implementing the National Cocoa Plan by the NCMC and the National Cocoa Board to further enhance cocoa production in Nigeria.
AgroNigeria gathered that The NCMC, established in 2022, plays a crucial role in coordinating and regulating Nigeria’s cocoa sector.
