By Fatima Muraina
An Akure-based agronomist and technocrat, Dr. Emmanuel Moyin-Jesu, has called for the reintroduction of a statutory produce standardisation and marketing board to address the growing challenge of adulteration in cocoa and other agricultural commodities in Nigeria.
Speaking on the declining quality of cocoa, palm kernel, shea butter and other export commodities, Dr. Moyin-Jesu blamed the problem on the abolition of the former Cocoa Marketing Board, which he described as a critical institution responsible for quality control and standardisation.
According to him, the absence of a regulatory framework has created room for widespread adulteration, resulting in product rejection in international markets, reduced earnings for farmers and significant revenue losses for government.
“The issue of adulteration in cocoa and other produce is largely a consequence of the abolition of the Cocoa Marketing Board. That institution was established to control standards, but today everything is left to free trade, with little or no quality regulation,” he said.
The agronomist identified poor farming practices as one of the major causes of quality deterioration. He noted that many farmers harvest immature cocoa pods, fail to properly ferment cocoa beans for the recommended five to seven days, and adopt unhygienic drying methods that expose produce to contamination.
“When immature pods are harvested, quality is already compromised. During processing, damaged beans are often mixed with healthy ones, while proper fermentation is neglected. These practices reduce the quality and market value of the produce,” he explained.
Dr. Moyin-Jesu also criticised the weak capacity of the Produce Department within the Ministry of Agriculture, arguing that the sector lacks sufficient personnel, laboratories and regional offices to effectively monitor product quality.
He advocated the establishment of modern standardization laboratories across cocoa-producing areas where moisture levels, chemical composition and other quality parameters can be scientifically tested before commodities are cleared for export.
“The current system relies largely on manual inspection. What we need are functional laboratories that can certify produce quality before products enter the international market,” he said.
The agricultural expert urged the Ondo State House of Assembly to enact legislation establishing an Ondo State Sunshine Standardisation and Marketing Board, which would regulate production, processing, certification and marketing of key agricultural commodities.
According to him, mandatory certification would discourage the practice of mixing quality produce with mouldy beans, stones and other foreign materials often added to increase weight.
He warned that the consequences of poor quality control extend beyond export rejection, affecting the entire agricultural value chain.
“When exports are rejected abroad, processors lose money, farmers receive lower prices and government revenue declines. The final products derived from such commodities are also of inferior quality. It is a chain reaction,” he stated.
Dr. Moyin-Jesu further highlighted growing concerns over traceability requirements in international markets, noting that buyers increasingly demand documentation showing the exact origin of agricultural products.
He explained that excessive use of banned chemicals and copper-based compounds by some farmers has also contributed to export rejections, as foreign laboratories routinely test for harmful residues and heavy metals.
“Many countries now demand detailed information on where products originate. Once laboratory tests reveal chemical residues above acceptable limits, the commodities are returned,” he said.
Reflecting on the role cocoa once played in the economic development of the old Western Region, Dr. Moyin-Jesu recalled that landmark projects such as Cocoa House and Liberty Stadium were funded through proceeds from a well-organised cocoa economy.
“At that time, attention was given to production, processing, certification and marketing. That was why cocoa revenues could fund major infrastructure projects. Today, much of that structure has disappeared,” he lamented.
He stressed that agriculture should not be reduced to the distribution of cutlasses and agrochemicals, describing it as a science-driven sector that requires research, innovation and institutional support.
The agronomist, therefore, called on the Ondo State Government to establish specialised research institutes for cocoa, oil palm and other strategic crops, arguing that such investments would improve productivity, attract investors and enhance the state’s economic growth.
“We need research institutes dedicated to cocoa and oil palm development. Agriculture is more than farming; it is a scientific enterprise that requires knowledge, organisation and long-term planning,” he added.