National Cocoa Festival: Youth Involvement in Large-Scale Cocoa Farming and Processing is Essential, Says CFAN
The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) has called on the government, traditional leaders, and local communities to actively encourage youth engagement in large-scale cocoa farming, processing, and management. CFAN suggests this can be achieved through robust entrepreneurship initiatives aimed at ensuring the sustainability of Nigeria’s cocoa production.
CFAN’s National President, Adeola Adegoke, delivered this message to journalists in Calabar on Thursday during the celebration of the 3rd National Cocoa Festival, held in Cross River State’s capital.
Adegoke highlighted that this year’s festival theme focuses on addressing compliance with the European Union’s Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) in Nigeria, with an emphasis on involving youth in cocoa entrepreneurship to enhance the sector’s sustainability.
In his welcome address, Adegoke celebrated the event in Calabar, Nigeria’s second-largest cocoa-producing state, calling the festival “another achievement and blessing from our Creator, allowing us to celebrate this wonderful occasion.” He emphasized the significant role cocoa plays in supporting livelihoods, generating revenue, and creating jobs. “This festival provides a valuable opportunity for industry stakeholders to connect and promote sustainable development in the cocoa sector,” he added.
He also mentioned that previous National Cocoa Festivals were held in Akure, Ondo State, and Abuja, making Calabar the chosen location for this year’s event.
Adegoke extended gratitude to Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, the Executive Director of ICCO, Mitchel Arrion, and other stakeholders for their partnership in tackling environmental challenges and implementing EUDR to attract more investments to the cocoa industry.
Governor Otu, represented by Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, congratulated CFAN for organizing the festival in Cross River. He unveiled a strategic seven-year plan aimed at improving the cocoa market system and promoting sustainability.
“Cross River faces significant microeconomic challenges, and we have identified cocoa as a primary driver of our economic development. We are implementing policies to enhance the value chain of cocoa,” Otu noted.
Currently, the state produces between 58,000 and 62,000 tons of cocoa annually across 123 hectares, with an average yield of 300 to 370 kilograms per hectare. The state is also revising existing agricultural laws to promote value addition at primary and secondary levels, aiming to generate jobs and attract foreign investment.
Chairing the event, former House of Representatives Member Daniel Asukwo emphasized, “Today, we gather not only to celebrate the achievements of our cocoa industry but to discuss and secure a sustainable future for a sector that has been a source of pride for Nigeria’s agricultural economy.”
Asukwo noted that the festival’s theme is timely, as the cocoa industry faces various domestic and international challenges. Although Nigeria once held a leading position as the world’s second-largest cocoa exporter, multiple issues have hindered its productivity and market share.
“The cocoa sector grapples with outdated farming practices, limited access to high-quality seedlings, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient investment,” he said. He also pointed out that new international regulations, such as the EUDR, impose further challenges for farmers already struggling to meet export standards.
Asukwo highlighted that the depreciation of the naira against major currencies has raised the costs of imported inputs, such as fertilizers and equipment. This situation has decreased profit margins for cocoa farmers, threatening their livelihoods and the future sustainability of Nigeria’s cocoa industry.