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Cocoa production to hit 1m metric tones by 2018
The transformation agenda for the country will help to increase the country’s cocoa production from its current 250, 000 metric tones to one million by 2018. While no fewer than 390, 000 jobs will be created.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi, who said this in Abuja, added that the government was poised to set up a Cocoa Marketing and Trade Corporation, that would guarantee minimum price for cocoa in the world market soon.
The move, according to him, will also help improve the income of farmers by $450 per hectare yearly.
He said the efforts were part of the strategies to rehabilitate cocoa plantations.
Oyemomi, said the government was committed to protecting cocoa farmers from the uncertainties of the market.
“Our main goal is to raise national cocoa production to at least 500,000 metric tonnes by 2015 and one million MT by 2018 from the current dismal production of 250,000 MT per annum through sustainable and better plantation management practice.
We will also improve the means of livelihood of at least 100,000 farmers by increasing the yield per hectare and cocoa income by $450 yearly in 250, 000 farm households in the cocoa producing states over the next four years and creating at least 390,000 jobs in the cocoa subsector,” he said.
Oyemomi, said the programme was designed to bring a paradigm shift in the agriculture sector, adding that the government had been facilitating access to agro-inputs under the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme.
“The ministry will remain focused on achieving its objectives of restoring Nigeria to its glorious position of the largest cocoa producer in the world by implementing the robust cocoa transformation agenda.
The ministry is working towards the incorporation of the Cocoa Marketing Trade Corporation. This institution will guarantee minimum price for cocoa in an assured market. It will protect the farmer from the vagaries of the world cocoa market,” he said.
He added, “Efforts are being made to rehabilitate old cocoa plantations and we are putting in place a cocoa quality improvement and branding mechanism.”
He said a fundamental principle of cocoa transformation is the strong engagement of the private sector in driving a vibrant cocoa industry.
According to him, the government has been setting up a database of cocoa farmers, adding that about 65, 525 farmers have been registered.
