…as farmers in 14 cocoa producing states receive seedlings

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – The nation’s cocoa industry received a massive intervention as the Federal Government, Wednesday, rolled out 1 million hybrid cocoa climate-smart seedlings programme to boost productivity, exports and create jobs.

According to a statement signed by the Head, Information Department, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, during the flag–off ceremony held at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN, in Ibadan, Oyo State, said the move is to revolutionize the cocoa ecosystem under the National Cocoa Development Plan and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

Kyari expressed optimism that with the huge potential in the cocoa industry, Nigeria has all the fundamentals to become one of the world’s leading cocoa producing nations based on favourable ecological conditions, experienced number of farmers, formidable research institutions, and a growing and attractive private sector.

However, the Minister said the low productivity of farmers is traceable to ageing cocoa plantations, low investments, poor access to improved planting inputs, climate-related challenges, and weak value addition, saying these constraints have reduced the nation’s competitiveness in international markets and limited cocoa’s contribution to national economic growth.

Meanwhile, the Minister said to reverse the trend, the Federal Government is working assiduously by implementing policies in productivity, sustainability, financing, research, extension services, market access, and value addition.

He said: “Today’s event is not merely the distribution of planting materials. It is the commencement of a strategic national intervention to restore the strength of Nigeria’s cocoa industry, improve the livelihoods of our farmers, increase export earnings, and reposition our country as a leading player in the global cocoa economy.

“Our objective is clear. We must build a modern, resilient, and globally competitive cocoa industry that delivers prosperity for farmers while contributing significantly to national development.

“At the heart of the initiative is the nationwide distribution of one million improved cocoa seedlings developed by CRIN. The seedlings are high-yielding, mature earlier, and have built-in disease resistance and climate adaptation traits. They will be deployed for the rehabilitation of ageing plantations and the establishment of new commercial cocoa farms across the country.

“Let this occasion mark the beginning of a new era for Nigeria’s cocoa industry. Let it signal our determination to restore productivity, strengthen sustainability, increase exports, create jobs, and reclaim Nigeria’s position among the world’s leading cocoa producing nations.”

Speaking on boost cocoa yields, he (Kyari) explained that farmers will receive extension support to adopt improved agronomic practices as government is also expanding local processing capacity to shift from raw bean exports to higher-value products, and driving greater private sector participation to scale investment, technology, and market linkages.

“To meet global standards, the programme includes traceability systems and farm mapping for EU Deforestation Regulation, EUDR, compliance. The National Cocoa Management Committee and the National Task Force on EUDR are coordinating with stakeholders to strengthen these systems and improve market access for premium prices.”

Meanwhile, he reiterated the need for Federal and State Governments including research institutions, financial institutions, development partners, processors, exporters, and private investors to deepen investments in the cocoa subsector.

The Minister called for stronger collaboration among federal and state governments, research institutions, financial institutions, development partners, processors, exporters, and private investors.

“I therefore call on all stakeholders to deepen their investments across the cocoa value chain. Together, we can expand production, improve processing capacity, create employment opportunities, and position Nigeria as a preferred destination for cocoa investment”, he said.

He also appealed to cocoa farmers to adopt recommended agronomic practices, work closely with extension officers as the improved cocoa seedlings were distributed to cocoa farmers across the 14 cocoa producing states.

“To our cocoa farmers, today’s programme presents a significant opportunity. The improved seedlings you are receiving are valuable national assets. I encourage you to adopt recommended agronomic practices, work closely with extension officers, and embrace innovations that will improve productivity and sustainability”, he said.

In his address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, maintained that, “Cocoa remains one of Nigeria’s most strategic agricultural commodities and a major source of income for farming households across our producing states.

“Despite its enormous potential, the sector has experienced declining productivity resulting from ageing plantations, limited access to improved planting materials, climate-related challenges, inadequate investment, and weak value addition.

Ogunbiyi with the sheer determination of the Tinubu-led administration, the bold step taken to revive and revamp the nation’s cocoa industry “is the successful production of 1 million improved cocoa seedlings by CRIN under the Federal Government’s approved Public-Private Partnership Framework. This reflects the value of collaboration among government, research institutions, the private sector, development partners, and farming communities.”

He further stated that the programme, which is a strategic investment in the future of Nigeria’s cocoa economy, “is expected to deliver increased productivity, higher incomes for farmers, expanded employment, increased foreign exchange earnings, improved competitiveness, and sustainable economic growth in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

While calling on cocoa farmers to make the best use of the improved seedlings by adopting recommended agronomic practices, the Permanent Secretary stressed that the success of the programme depends not only on government support “but also on your commitment to excellence in production.”

Meanwhile, in a goodwill message, the Olubadan, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, represented by the Ajiroba of Ibadan, Prof Soji Adejumon, stated that the Ibadan communities would continue to support the agricultural policies of President Bola Tinubu which is geared towards improving the livelihoods of Nigeria Farmers and achieving food sovereignty.

Responding on behalf of the benefiting cocoa farmers, Mr Alaba Adegoke, pledged that the farmers would make judicious use of the improved seedlings to increase production and improve their livelihoods.