The President of the Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA), Mr Adegoke Adeola, has called for more youth participation in cocoa farming to replace the ageing farmers.
Adeola made the call during the inauguration of the Nigeria chapter of COFAAA in Ibadan on Wednesday.
He said more youths must be encouraged to venture into cocoa farming to increase cocoa production in Nigeria.
According to him, current cocoa farmers in Nigeria are mostly in their sixties and above.
Adeola, who is also COFAAA Global Coordinator, said the country must stop being indifferent to the numerous challenges facing cocoa production to ensure sustainability.
He said that cocoa farmers had not in the last 40 years enjoyed so much pricing as they had enjoyed recently.
He, however, added that there must be continued enlightenment and capacity building to sustain the benefits.
The cocoa farmers’ president said with the association’s inauguration in Nigeria, it would continue to strive to change the livelihood of cocoa farmers and bring more prosperity to the sector.
According to Adeola, cocoa farmers should adopt technology, plant improved cocoa varieties and stop relying on old practices which do not improve productivity.
He said the association would collaborate with processors, government and other stakeholders to address the challenges of cocoa farmers in Nigeria and boost the nation’s global recognition.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Cocoa Processors Association of Nigeria (COPAN), Otunba Felix Oladunjoye, said the inauguration of COFAAA in Nigeria would give the nation a say in the global market.
Oladunjoye said that in the past, Nigeria had fallen behind in terms of making decisions and policies in the international cocoa market because it was not represented in global cocoa associations.
He, however, called on cocoa farmers and other stakeholders to add value to the commodity and stop exporting it raw for the country to benefit maximally in cocoa production.
“When you add value, you create more jobs, more earnings and have more processing factories,” he said.
Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, South-West Zonal Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), said the roles of cocoa farmers could not be overemphasised.
Akeredolu said the nation stood a chance to benefit more with the inauguration of COFAAA in Nigeria.
She added that the ministry hoped the association would help to address some of the challenges faced by cocoa farmers.
She identified some of the challenges as ageing cocoa planting, low yield and poor adoption of technology.
The zonal director urged cocoa farmers to start planting improved cocoa varieties and adopt technology to have more yield and income.
She assured the association of the Federal Government’s support and collaboration for the sustainability of cocoa production.
