'We need support for Nigeria to overtake Ivory-coast, Ghana' - Cocoa farmers

The National President of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), Comrade Adeola Adegoke, has stated that the country's plan of doubling whatever premium cocoa beans Ivory-coast and Ghana are jointly producing can achieved in two years.

According to Adegoke, smallholder farmers must be aided by cocoa producing State governments to irrigate cocoa farms all year round.

Adegoke stated: “I think that if our smallholder cocoa farmers can partner and be supported by cocoa producing State governments to irrigate our cocoa farms all year round in all the cocoa-producing states, Nigeria’s vision of doubling whatever premium cocoa beans Ivory Coast and Ghana are jointly producing achievable before 2026.

“Nigeria is endowed with land, youth population, research resources, good soil, varieties, aroma, capacity and private sector player’s resilience.”

The members of the National Cocoa Management Committee, inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security have also called for the establishment of the National Cocoa Board.

According to the body, the National Cocoa Board is important and its establishment will further improve cocoa production in Nigeria.

The members at the meeting also discussed the need to mitigate the impending European Union Regulation Compliance on Deforestation, EUDR, threats to the Cocoa sector in Nigeria and how to guarantee a robust and transparent cocoa sector.