NIGERIA’S dismal position in the comity of nations producing cocoa has currently left the country’s economy in a precarious state.
ACCORDING to figures released by the International Cocoa Organisation, Nigeria is presently in seventh position, down from the fourth position it occupied last year as a cocoa producing nation. The downward trend may be ascribed to neglect of the product which is noted for its enduring prospects and sustainable wealth, and job creation, for the ephemeral petrol dollar oil wealth.
WHILE cocoa product sustained the economy of the Western region in the 60s the level of development in the region was unprecedented. The Cocoa House built with proceeds from cocoa still stands till day. The edifice is a cynosure of all eyes till today, so also, the various estates, Oodua Investments, first Television Station in Africa, companies that adorn the region as architectural wonders.
BY independence in 1960, the Western region was rated as the undisputed leading producer and exporter of cocoa in Nigeria, second to Ghana in cocoa production through the ingenuity of Obafemi Awolowo who made sure that farmers earned huge money from their cocoa.
WITH earnings from cocoa , Western region paid taxes to the central government, that is, the region sustained the federal government through revenue generated from cocoa.
WHAT Chief Obafemi Awolowo did in the 60s, another man, the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is now doing by revolutionalising cocoa production in the state. Millions of cocoa seedlings have been distributed to farmers in Jugbere, in Owo local government, so also, to farmers in Idanre, Akure South/ North, Ifedore and Ondo West/East local governments to boost their cocoa productions.
IN addition to this, the state which is presently producing 80,000 metric tonnes of cocoa is targeting 150,000 metric tonnes as the state government distributed 2,200,000 improved cocoa seedlings freely to farmers in the state to facilitate higher outputs.
TO say more, the Governor has also upgraded the Cocoa Revolution Project in the state to Cocoa Revolution and Management Agency, COCOREV, a full-fledged agency to oversee the entire cocoa value chain such as production, marketing, value added and utilization.
IT would be recalled that Ondo State as the leading producer of cocoa in Nigeria has allowed the state’s cash cow to wither away. Many farmers have abandoned cocoa farming, reason for the immediate fall in the production of cocoa in Nigeria.
THE Hope commends the cocoa revolution initiative of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and calls for sincerity and support for this great vision.
WE also call on the state government to grant loans to real farmers to upgrade their cocoa business in the state. All the ageing and dying cocoa trees should be replaced with new hybrid cocoa seedlings. In addition, youths should be given incentives to take to cocoa farming in order to take over from existing aged farmers who are no longer physically fit to farm.
WE can take a cue from the former Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola’s initiative where he gave land and distributed high yielding cocoa seedlings to some youths to build and create enabling markets for them to sell their cocoa at high price. If this can be done in Ondo State in the next three years, the state will be better economically and the revolution would have achieved its aims and objectives.
WITH global sales of chocolate confectioneries put at over $100 billion, according to the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, there is the need for Ondo State government to revamp the industries using cocoa as end products, so that, people in the state can benefit and export chocolate, and even be gainfully employed. Apart from this, cocoa is also useful in the production of powder, liquors, soft and alcoholic drinks, animal feeds, cocoa butter, jams, cosmetics and marmalades. Improving cocoa quality in the state will bring more revenues through the above products.
THERE is no other time for the state government to start cocoa revolution than now, especially with the availability of improved cocoa hybrids that take much shorter times to grow and mature with increasing yields. There are varieties of cocoa seeds that can mature in 18 to 24 months, more of such varieties should be brought to the state to encourage cocoa farmers. If Indonesia can reportedly take cocoa seed away from Ondo in 1980 and today is the world number one in cocoa production, the revival and cocoa revolution initiative by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu should be supported by all in the state.
THE Hope calls on the state government to create more cocoa farms in the state, these would create employment for the teeming unemployed youths roaming the streets of the state.
FINALLY, government must be involved in the pricing of cocoa to ensure that middlemen do not exploit the farmers. Doing this will protect cocoa farmers from being discouraged.