Nigeria To Increase Cocoa Production To .5m Tonnes - Minister

The Minister of  Agriculture,  Dr Akinwumi Adesina, on Thursday announced plans by the Federal Government  to double cocoa production in the country  from 250,000 to 500,000 metric tonnes by 2015.

Adesina,  who was delivering a keynote address in Ibadan at the 1st International Cocoa Conference,  also said that 3.6 million hybrid cocoa pods would be distributed free to cocoa farmers in the country to meet the target.

The minister,  who was represented by Dr Talabi Odeyemi, a director in the ministry,  said the objectives would lead to the cultivation of 114,000 hectares of cocoa.
Adesina said it was gladdening  to note that the new hybrid cocoa pods were developed by Nigerian researchers for  local  farmers.
He, however,  called on the private sector to partner with the government in exploring the  opportunities in cocoa production.
Adesina also called for intensification of efforts toward adding value to cocoa in the country for the country to be a global player  in international cocoa business.
He commended  First  Bank, the sponsor of the conference,  for partnering with the government in reviving the lost glory of cocoa in the country.

The President of  Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN),  Mr Sayina Riman,  in his address of welcome,  announced plans to create a data base for  the cocoa industry and farmers in the country.
Riman said CAN's vision was to initiate a robust "bean-to-bar database of the cocoa economy.’’
"In a networked and global economy  where traceability has become a major determinant for service delivery provision, policy making and customer experience,  we cannot and must not continue to operate in the dark.

"It is indeed an embarrassment that we have different accounts or sources of the cocoa output in Nigeria; embarrassing the even more that we do not know for sure how many producers are actively involved in production, indeed, how many are sharecroppers, lien croppers, tenants etc and indeed how many farmlands are under active cultivation and by what farmer, " he said.
Riman said CAN had  entered into partnership with local and international stakeholders to ensure the success of the programme  as well as develop the cocoa industry in the country to  global leadership.

Gov.  Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, the  Chairman of First Bank, Mr Ajibola Afonja,  and the President, Africa Cocoa Initiative, Amb.  Sonai Ebai,  were among dignitaries present at the occasion.