Stakeholders Highlight Need for Comprehensive Support in Cocoa Sector

Stakeholders emphasized that enhanced seedlings alone cannot guarantee increased productivity without ongoing financial and technical support, access to quality inputs, better market incentives, and technologies to improve farm management.

Revitalizing the cocoa sector demands a coordinated effort among government, private-sector operators, and development partners to address structural challenges affecting production, farmers’ earnings, and Nigeria’s position in the global cocoa market.

A significant issue is the poor condition of existing plantations, with many containing old and declining trees that fail to reach their full yield potential, according to stakeholders.

James Oyesola, a member of the National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC), stated that rehabilitating existing farms and establishing new plantations with improved varieties are essential to boost productivity.

Oyesola noted that distributing improved seedlings without addressing the condition of existing farms would restrict the overall effectiveness of initiatives aimed at increasing cocoa production.

He highlighted that cocoa farming requires sustained investment in land preparation, planting, fertiliser application, weed control, pest and disease management, and labour before farmers can expect returns.