By Bisola Adeyemo
Cocoa farmers under the aegis of Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) has assured stakeholders of plans to be the highest quality cocoa producer in West Africa in the next five years.
Adeola Adegoke, National President of CFAN gave the assurance on Thursday at the flag-off of the free distribution of the cocoa GAP handbook, to smallholders cocoa farmers in Cross River State.
Adegoke said the association will ensure that cocoa farmers are enlightened and trained on the responsible use of pesticides and how to manage other climate-related issues.
He noted part of the association’s ambition is to ensure Nigeria produces 500,000 metric tonnes in the next two years, in line with internationally acceptable best practices.
The CFAN President also stated that the Association’s concept of producing the Cocoa GAP Handbook and also making sure that it is distributed free to the cocoa farmers is in conjunction with Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) , EBAFOSA, Harvestfeld Industries Limited, Federal Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment with other stakeholders contributions towards the sustainability of the cocoa supply chain in Nigeria.
“As the singular commodity that gives the highest foreign exchange earnings apart from crude oil and provide incomes to more than two millions cocoa connected families and over $100 million investment in the sector, our recent activities to enhance and push forward our cocoa production from the currently over 300,000 metric tonnes and expand our average low productivity from the present 350/400kgms is urgently needed.” He said.
Speaking further, he said the association is currently pursuing the improvement of the living income of the smallholder cocoa farmers.
“It is very poor and unacceptable, where cocoa beans pricing is still in tandem with neo colonial mentality at the International market, that does not consider cocoa farmers investment on input vis-a-vis output cost price for the survival and sustainability of the cocoa production subsector.
“We are currently demanding for $400 Living Income Differential (LID) as being collected by Ghana and Ivory Coast cocoa farmers above their floor price farm gate for the cocoa farmers of Nigeria.
“It is therefore, our belief that this Cocoa GAP Hand book would be given to all the cocoa farmers across the cocoa producing local governments and communities in conjunction with our traditional rulers in CRS, for us to comply with international best practices and due diligence needed in the sector.
“This book has taken care of the noticed gaps in our cocoa affairs and provided our cocoa farmers with smart adaptation strategies to mitigate the challenges.” Adegoke said.
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