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Cocoa Farmers Association Of Nigeria ...great cocoa farmers |
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Cocoa Farmers Association Of Nigeria ...great cocoa farmers |
CHILD LABOUR ERADICATION WITH LWR
Posted on | 2024-04-06Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria and Lutheran World Relief are partnering through CLEAR PROJECT on how to eradicate child labour in our cocoa communities via educational development of the affected communities. CFAN will continue to work with the various stakeholders on how to completely eradicate child labour in the Nigerian cocoa supply chain.
WHY NIGERIAN COCOA FARMERS ARE COMFORTABLE NOW
Posted on | 2024-04-06PRESS RELEASE
WHY THE NIGERIAN COCOA FARMERS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE CURRENT COCOA PRICING SYSTEM DESPITE THE NON - IMPLEMENTATION OF LID.
Nigeria Cocoa farmers presently are enjoying our best of the moment due to the skyrocketing prices of cocoa beans at the international markets and especially considering the fact that Nigeria is presently running a deregulated cocoa economy after the abolition of the cocoa board in the year 1986.
And presently, we are not envying our counterparts cocoa farmers in Ghana and Ivory Coast due to the system of their cocoa economy which does not give them the opportunity to enjoy the present surge in cocoa prices as a result of the future cocoa contract being executed by their respective cocoa boards. In fact, we were reliably informed that the price the two respective giant cocoa origin countries are paying their cocoa farmers were the prices of cocoa as at April, 2023 that was around $ 2,700 per ton. Let’s forget the new increment in cocoa prices in Ivory Coast and Ghana of recent where it was done at 50% increments at both countries just last week and this week respectively.
What Nigeria needs is to firm the control of our cocoa economy in order to increase the production and productivity of our smallholder cocoa farmers’ farms holdings through the provisions of subsidized farm inputs, credit facility, capacity building etc thereby improving their livelihoods. We must start to regulate and promote the Nigerian cocoa economy through the National Cocoa management Committee (NCMC) where more investment into the sector will be guaranteed if the Committee can achieve stable regulatory framework that controls quality , smuggling, pesticides control, extension management, R&D, traceability, FMAFS & State Cocoa Producing Governments synergy, child labor eradication, deforestation control and National Cocoa Plan implementation .
The NCMC must not get involved in buying and selling of cocoa beans except cocoa beans stabilization support funding in future when necessary especially when cocoa price nosedived downward beyond cocoa farmers economic capacity as being done in other developed countries on other commodities.
The EUDR policy has called for a greater participation of cocoa stakeholders collaboration in order to achieve a national traceability system that guarantees a seamless transparency in our cocoa economy business with sustainability. Nigeria has better opportunities to surpass Ivory Coast and Ghana considering the downward sliding of their cocoa production due to pest and disease, climate change, smuggling, miners activities, land degradation, unfavorable cocoa economy governance (government involvement in buying and selling of cocoa beans), poor remuneration of their smallholder cocoa farmers etc. With the Nigeria youth population in cocoa industry, and the favorable cocoa governance as far as the recent cocoa prices benefit to the Nigerian cocoa farmers are concerned, the future of the Nigerian cocoa sector will further be brightened with the intervention of the full exercise of the regulatory powers of the industry vested in the hands of NCMC dominated by the private stakeholders of the Nigerian cocoa industry.
Nigeria is moving towards a sustainable cocoa economy with a renewed hope agenda of the present administration.
May Nigeria succeeds!
Comrade Adeola Adegoke
National President,
Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria {CFAN}.3RD NATIONAL COCOA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING @ AKURE
Posted on | 2024-03-10NIGERIAN COCOA #STAKEHOLDERS UNDER NATIONAL COCOA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE {NCMC} INAUGURATED BY THE FMAFS TO OVERSEE THE #REGULATION OF THE COCOA INDUSTRY IN NIGERIA HAD CONCLUDED HER 3RD MEETING HELD ON THE 7TH OF MARCH, 2024 AT HERITAGE INTERNATIONAL HOTEL, AKURE, #ONDO STATE. TOPICAL ISSUES LIKE THE DOMESTICATION OF EUDR REGULATIONS AND HOW TO BOOST THE NIGERIAN COCOA #PRODUCTION THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL COCOA #PLAN WERE THOROUGHLY DELIBERATED UPON.
The #National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC), a committee inaugurated by the #Federal Ministry of #Agriculture and Food Security in 2022, saddled with the responsibility of coordinating and regulating the #cocoa sector in Nigeria recently had its 3rd meeting in Akure, Ondo State on the 7th of March 2024.
Among the participants at the meeting were Seven(7) members of the committee namely Dr Patrick Adebola, Executive Director Cocoa #Research Institute of Nigeria(CRIN, Mr Ajayi Olutobaba, Deputy Director #Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security(FMAFS), Mrs Hajara Usman, Deputy Director Federal Ministry of #Industry Trade and Investment(FMITI), Comrade Adeola Adegoke, President,Cocoa Farmers #Association of Nigeria(CFAN), Mr Mufutau Abolarinwa, President Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Prince Matins Awofisayo CEO Harvesfield Limited and Mr. Williams Ifere, Cross River State Cocoa Desk Officer.
Also in attendance were Prince Senator (Dr.) Gbolahan Dada FNIM ,who did a Presentation on Technology Driven Cocoa Production and Value Addition in Cocoa Products in Nigeria, Mr Jerry Oche, who had a presentation on #European Union Regulation #Compliance on #Deforestation and way forward, Mr Ayo Akinola whose presentation was on Impending European Union threats to Nigerian Cocoa Bean/Products and way forward and Mr Benjami Eze , Harvestfield Industries Limited whose presentation was on Organic Products for Cocoa. We also had the presence of #ofi representatives and #LWR-TRACE(Chief of Party),Nene Akwerty.
The discussions were centred around mitigating the impending #EUDR threats to Cocoa sector in Nigeria and guaranteeing a robust and #transparent cocoa sector through transparency, #traceability, and coordination within the cocoa industry. Furthermore, the need for #National Cocoa Plan to be implemented by the National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC) was an outcome of the meeting.
Also, it was noted that the National Cocoa #Board is essential, and its establishment will further improve cocoa production in Nigeria.
Signed.
National Cocoa Management Committee Secretariat,
FMAFS,Abuja.NIGERIA CAN OVERTAKE IVORY COAST & GHANA IN COCO
Posted on | 2024-03-10WHY NIGERIA CAN OVERTAKE IVORY COAST AND GHANA IN COCOA PRODUCTION BEFORE 2026.
I am of the opinion that if we smallholder cocoa farmers can partner and be supported by cocoa producing #stategovernments to #irrigate our cocoa #farms all year round in all the #cocoa producing states in Nigeria; honestly Nigeria vision of doubling whatever #premium cocoa beans #ivorycoast and #ghana are jointly producing achievable before 2026.
Nigeria is endowed with #land, #youth population, #research resources, good #soil, #varieties, #aroma, #capacity and private sector player’s #resilience!
May #nigeria dreams of becoming again the #highest cocoa #producer amongst cocoa #origin #countries possible before #2026.
Comrade Adeola Adegoke
National President,
Cocoa Farmers #Association of Nigeria {CFAN}2ND NATIONAL COCOA FESTIVAL LOADING
Posted on | 2023-10-12Nigeria Cocoa stakeholders are currently preparing for the celebrations of the 2nd National Cocoa Festival slated for the 18th and 19th October,2023 at Abuja.
2ND NATIONAL COCOA FESTIVAL @ ABUJA CONTINENTAL HOTEL
Posted on | 2023-10-04The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria is organizing 2ND NATIONAL COCOA FESTIVAL in collaboration with USDA/LUTHERAN WORLD RELEIF/TRACE and other cocoa value chain actors. This event will majorly addresses the challenges of sustainability and proffer solutions appropriately as far as the cocoa supply chain is concern.
Nigeria is looking forward on how to comply with due diligence and traceability in order to reposition the cocoa industry and move the sector forward. The factors like child labor, deforestation, productivity and sustainable production will be firmly tackled at the event.
The second leg will also be devoted to the launching of the USDA/LWR/TRACE in Nigeria.2ND NATIONAL COCOA FESTIVAL @ ABUJA CONTINENTAL HOTEL
Posted on | 2023-10-04The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria is organizing 2ND NATIONAL COCOA FESTIVAL in collaboration with USDA/LUTHERAN WORLD RELEIF/TRACE and other cocoa value chain actors. This event will majorly addresses the challenges of sustainability and proffer solutions appropriately as far as the cocoa supply chain is concern.
Nigeria is looking forward on how to comply with due diligence and traceability in order to reposition the cocoa industry and move the sector forward. The factors like child labor, deforestation, productivity and sustainable production will be firmly tackled at the event.
The second leg will also be devoted to the launching of the USDA/LWR/TRACE in Nigeria.Cocoa Sustainability Remains CFAN Priority
Posted on | 2023-09-22Nigeria journey to attain full sustainability has been rekindled by the coming 2nd National Cocoa Festival slated for the 18th and 19th October, 2023 at Abuja Continental Hotel,FCT.Abuja.
This event will showcases the rich cultural practices and deep commitment of cocoa stakeholders to meet up 2025 EU due diligence action plan. CFAN has taken the preparation to move forward the value chain and incentivize the prosperity of our smallholder cocoa farmers beyond the existing obstacles in the sector with serious collaboration of our value chain players in Nigeria.Why Nigeria Cocoa Industry Will Be %100 Sustainable
Posted on | 2023-09-09NIGERIA SETS TO OVER-TAKE IVORY COAST AND GHANA ON SUSTAINABLE COCOA SUPPLY CHAIN BEFORE THE YEAR 2025 SET BY THE EU, TO BAN UNSUSTAINABLE COCOA BEANS AT THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, THROUGH THE COLLABORATION EFFORTS OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, US GOVERNMENT [TRACE] AND PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU’S COCOA BOARD RESUSCITATION POLICY TO CONTROL AND DEVELOP THE COCOA SUPPLY CHAIN ALONG SUSTAINABLE PATHS.
There is no ambiguity in the desirousness of Nigeria to over-take #Ivory Coast and #Ghana on sustainable #cocoa supply chain, before the coming EU ban of unsustainable cocoa beans set for the year 2025 from entering the international markets, with the #US-TRACE support of #Nigeria cocoa value chain through the Lutheran World Relief approved of $22 million five year development program that covers; traceability, #climate smart practices, inputs support to #smallholder farmers, capacity building along the value chain and #exports in collaboration with the Nigerian cocoa stakeholders.
Thus, the determination of the President #Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resuscitate the #Agricultural Boards in order to revive the Agricultural sector has reinforced the determination of the cocoa stakeholders to work together to change the Nigerian cocoa narrative. The Nigeria Cocoa #Board that was established in the year 1948 was saddled with the responsibility of developing, managing and stabilizing the price of the Nigeria cocoa beans. And under her watch, the industry recorded some tremendous growth in terms of #quality, #flavor, production & productivity and the total regulation and #development of the industry in line with international standard practices. However, the #price #stabilization #policy where cocoa farmers were greatly exploited led to the abolishment of the Board in the year 1986.To us, is like throwing away the baby with the bad water considering the growth of Ghana to Nigeria today in cocoa production.
The Nigeria #Government has reaffirmed her readiness to resuscitate the Nigeria Cocoa Board that was once noted for the growth of the industry and the driver of the commodity that gave the highest foreign exchange earnings to the Federal Government, especially when Nigeria was adjudged the best producer of flavor cocoa beans in #West Africa with good aroma. This policy if well implemented will bring back the lost glory of the sector, when Nigeria was regarded as the second highest producer of cocoa in the 60’s and early 70’s with about 490,000 MTS.
Nigeria is presently fourth in cocoa production behind Ivory Coast, Ghana and #Indonesia with about 2.2 million MTS, 800,000 MTS and 739,483 MTS respectively, while Nigeria with 340,000 MTS and currently targeting 500,000 MTS by the year 2024. It accounts for 6.5 per cent share of global production, after Ivory Coast, Ghana and Indonesia [NEPC]. Nigeria currently realizes $700 million annually from the exports of cocoa beans and cannot afford to lose guard considering her huge investments in the cocoa industry that valued close to 500 billion naira.
Cocoa #Farmers Association of Nigeria [CFAN] has collaborated with the cocoa stakeholders [#farmers, #buyers, #exporters, #input providers, #policy makers, #researchers, etc] to fashioning out modalities via Nigeria Cocoa #Summit held in Abuja in the year 2021; where discussants highlighted the issues in the industry and proffered solutions to move the industry forward. The #EU must begin to see Nigeria as a cocoa origin country taking the bull by the horn to address the challenges of cocoa #sustainability.
It is interesting to note that stakeholders have taken numerous actions that are presently addressing some of the challenges militating against the sustainability of the sector like #child labor menace, #deforestation, #traceability, #application of unapproved or ban #pesticide in cocoa farms etc. One of these steps is CFAN distribution of free #GAP books to cocoa farmers across the cocoa producing states and cocoa communities in Nigeria, with the supCFAN POSITION ON PRES.TINUBU\'S FOOD SECURITY PLANS
Posted on | 2023-07-21Food Sufficiency has always been the major goal of any serious government of any nation and Nigeria\'s position shouldn\'t be different. For any nation to survive, food security is the key and the major determinant of any strong economy( import and export ratio). So this must be a welcome development from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, pursuing his food security plans through the Security Council purview (especially Agriculture& Water Resources) but must not be a mere word with all actions deployed to create food sufficiency in due time.
Self-sufficiency is the key to securing any nation and Mr.President was right with the decision of the FGN in this direction. However, the present high cost of energy must have rubbed off or seriously impacted Mr. President\'s intention in this regard considering the present skyrocketing inputs price and its negative effect on the cost of cocoa or Agro production for the smallholder farmers. We do not know how Mr.President would solve this energy crisis but we know that the objective might be impacted negatively at present if urgent measures are not put in place to solve the problem and save the smallholder cocoa farmers from degenerating into more poverty beyond control thereby negatively rubbing of the gains of food security.
On the issue of the Commodity Board; Mr.President has never hidden his views on the need to bring- back the Boards to support his food sufficiency strategies. It must be known that the present total deregulation of the cocoa sector after the dissolution of the commodity board in 1986 has set the industry backward without any appreciable progress in quality, production, productivity, and the fair market mechanism to support the farmers. The smallholder cocoa farmers have continued to bear the full cost of cocoa production without any appreciable support from the government at all levels unlike what was obtainable during the cocoa board era in 1986 and being done in Ghana and Ivory Coast that still retained their boards and presently with production capacity of 1million MT and 2 million MT respectively while Nigeria is presently hovering around 300,000 -350,000 MT.
However, we will not support the purchasing power to be given to the board again(Apart from buyers of the last result) and play a major role in the regulation and development of the sector due to the bad experience suffered by the Nigerian farmers when they were cheated by the then board via price manipulation that led to the dissolution I.e throwing away the baby with the bad water.
The present Autopilot system in the cocoa sector must be stopped to make our cocoa competitive and spur investment that has continued to elude us as a result of a free market without regulation that aided fraud, cheating, waste, low productivity & production, no plan, circumvention, poor quality, compromisation of standardization and low livelihood of the cocoa farmers.