Cocoa plantation
By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
Over 300 participants, including cocoa farmers, stakeholders, and government representatives, gathered at the 3rd National Cocoa Festival in Calabar, Cross River State, to address the challenges facing Nigeria’s cocoa industry.
The festival, themed “Calabar 2024,” aimed to mobilize stakeholders to comply with the European Union’s Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) and promote youth entrepreneurship in cocoa production.
The participants criticized the low level of cocoa consumption in Nigeria and the lack of accurate data on cocoa production and value chain.
They identified several challenges, including soil degradation, pests, and diseases on farms, as well as the wrong use of adulterated agrochemicals. The stakeholders also noted the need for sustainable practices in cocoa supply chains, innovative technologies, and practices for youth entrepreneurship.
The 11-point communique issued at the end of the festival called for the government and National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC) to take the lead in updating and harmonizing available data on cocoa value chain.
It also stressed the need for sensitization and awareness campaigns on EUDR and other relevant regulations, as well as the adoption of best agronomic practices by farmers.
Additionally, the communique emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders, infrastructure development in rural areas, and policy interventions to stabilize the naira and make it easier for farmers to access foreign exchange for essential imports.
The stakeholders also called for policy interventions to stabilize the naira and make it easier for farmers to access foreign exchange for essential imports. They emphasized the need for urgent action to address the challenges facing Nigeria’s cocoa industry and ensure its sustainability.
