The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) has announced plans for its upcoming national cocoa festival scheduled to take place on October 18 and 19 in Abuja. The event aims to facilitate discussions on innovative strategies and sustainable practices to elevate Nigeria’s cocoa production beyond 2025.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!With the theme “Upscaling Nigeria Cocoa Sustainability Beyond 2025,” the conference intends to address prevalent socio-economic challenges impeding the long-term viability of Nigeria’s cocoa sector. Among the key highlights will be the launch of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food for progress trade projects in Nigeria, fostering a collaborative environment for stakeholders within the cocoa supply chain to deliberate on the industry’s future trajectory.
Mr. Adeola Adegoke, the National President of CFAN, emphasized the significance of constructive dialogue between local and international cocoa industry stakeholders to devise pragmatic solutions, aiming to restore Nigeria to its former status as a leading cocoa-producing origin country, reminiscent of its prominence in the sixties.
Despite Nigeria’s current position as the fourth largest cocoa producer globally, following Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Indonesia, the statement highlighted the superior quality of Nigerian cocoa beans, renowned for their exceptional characteristics such as good bean count, minimal slatey and mold content, and a distinct aromatic and smooth flavor, rendering Nigerian cocoa highly sought-after in the international market.
Recognizing the urgent need for collective action, CFAN stressed the importance of enhancing sustainable production and improving traceability. Furthermore, they emphasized the significance of providing comprehensive support to farmers, enhancing their productivity and income through sustainable livelihood initiatives, including value-added processing and localized packaging for domestic consumption.
