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Akeredolu Olayinka Abimbola, the South West Zonal Director, Federal Ministry Of Agriculture And Food Security has said that the establishment of the Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA), Nigeria Chapter, is expected to strengthen the sector by providing farmers with the support, resources, and platform they need to thrive.
Akeredolu stated this while speaking at the official launching of Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA), Nigeria chapter, in Ibadan, stressing that the milestone event marks a significant moment in the advancement of the cocoa industry in the country.
According to her, “the cocoa industry has long been a cornerstone of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, contributing to both our economy and the livelihoods of millions of farmers in the country. The Nigeria export of cocoa and cocoa preparation was $815.04million in the year 2023 according to United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.
She noted that Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, stated that Nigeria’s Cocoa export in 2023 accounted for 29 percent of the total agricultural export valued at N1.24 trillion.
She commended the efforts of all stakeholders involved in the formation of the alliance, stressing that the role of cocoa farmers cannot be overstated.
“They are the backbone of this industry, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure they receive the recognition, training, and fair compensation they deserve.
“I also wish to acknowledge the unwavering commitment of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria in advocating for sustainable farming practices, fair trade, and empowerment of cocoa farmers across the country and the continent at large.
“Nigeria’s cocoa sector stands to benefit immensely from these efforts, as they align with our broader objectives of agricultural growth, sustainability, and food security which is our country’s presidential priority. It is our expectation that COFAAA will address the challenges in the sector such as aging cocoa plantations, low yields, low infrastructure, and poor adoption of technology among others.
He thereby called the attention of every stakeholder to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and reminded all that cocoa is one of the seven key commodities the regulation affects.
“The regulation aims to curb global deforestation, land/forest degradation, biodiversity loss, promote afforestation -free supply chains, reduce the EU’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions (through the consumption of these forest-risk commodities), and protect human and indigenous rights.
Comrade Adeola Adegoke, the National President of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) and President/Global Coordinator of COFAAA in his address emphasized the enormous support received from the cocoa farmers in Nigeria that led to his new leadership role at the African level.
He gave the historical background of how his leadership has repositioned CFAN which has become the most organized with the largest membership not only in Nigeria but in Africa.
He said that the hitherto voiceless cocoa farmers group has now become the biggest voice in Nigeria and that the association under his leadership has initiated partnership and collaborations with other cocoa stakeholders, facilitated loans to the cocoa farmers, enhance capacity building, participate in policy making, cooperatives development at the farm gate level, encouraging sustainable practices and ecosystem protection.
Adegoke noted that at COFAAA level, Nigeria cocoa farmers have a lot to benefit in the areas of good governance, incentivizing the industry through collaborations with other global cocoa institutions.
“This will be deliberate especially to empower African cocoa farmers through various initiatives and innovations that will bring all African cocoa farmers together regardless of our geographical locations but will be united by cocoa.
Speaking further he said that Nigeria is currently producing 300-450kg per hectare which is not really profitable and that Africa today produced 70 percent of the World Cocoa Production that is about 4.7million metric tonnes.
He said that the association will create a big voice for the cocoa farmers regardless of African countries they belong to and both common and individual issues will be dissected and tailored made solutions provided to solve these common and peculiar challenges.
He thereby called on African countries and particularly, cocoa farmers to unite and work towards the prosperity of Africa cocoa economy particularly cocoa farmers prosperity as the golden hen that lays the golden egg for the sustainability of the cocoa industry in Africa.
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