By Fatima Muraina
The Chairman of the Ondo State Cocoa Board and Cocoa Revolution Management Agency, Omolade Fabiyi, has said that the Ondo State Government established the agency to attract investment into the cocoa value chain and boost production.
Fabiyi made the statement during a Cocoa Traceability Seminar organised to sensitise cocoa farmers, exporters, processors and other industry stakeholders to international traceability requirements and quality standards in Akure, recently.
Disclosing that Ondo State accounts for more than 40 per cent of Nigeria’s cocoa production, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving product quality, expanding value addition and strengthening traceability across the sector.
Fabiyi identified insecurity and poor rural road infrastructure as major constraints affecting cocoa production, and therefore called for sustained investment in farm security and rural access roads to improve productivity.
A member of the board and the agency, Dr. Samuel Oyebade, advocated the establishment of designated cocoa clusters across the local government areas, describing traceability as a non-negotiable requirement in the global cocoa market.
He also called for the rehabilitation of ageing cocoa plantations and increased technical support for farmers through soil testing, improved seedlings and modern agronomic practices.
Speaking on the technical aspect of the initiative, cocoa traceability expert, Stephen Ayodele, explained that international buyers now require complete documentation of agricultural products from the farm to the point of export.
He maintained that the digital traceability system will enable buyers to monitor cocoa consignments in real time, thereby enhancing confidence in the origin, quality and handling of Nigerian cocoa exports.
The Ondo State Coordinator of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Florence Okafor, warned farmers, exporters and other stakeholders against adulterating cocoa beans with stones and other foreign materials, stating that the council had intensified efforts to curb the rejection of Nigerian cocoa in the international market.
She said the practice had continued to damage the reputation of Nigerian cocoa and weaken buyers’ confidence in the global market.
She added, “Traceability is now essential in global trade,” cautioning against unethical practices aimed at increasing the weight of cocoa beans.
S