The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to implement a strict regulatory framework for the proposed National Cocoa Management Board, emphasizing that government involvement in cocoa sales hampers the industry’s growth.
In a recent phone interview, CFAN President Adeola Adegoke stated that the stagnation of the cocoa sector in Nigeria is due to structural issues that can only be resolved by a dedicated regulatory board, rather than one burdened with trading responsibilities.
Adegoke expressed, “We are advocating for a board focused on regulations, development, centralization, and protection, without engaging in buying and selling. This is the model my leadership has been promoting.” He highlighted the sector’s prolonged neglect, which has been exacerbated by the dissolution of the original Nigerian Cocoa Marketing Board in 1986, calling it a case of “throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”
He pointed out that Nigeria was once recognized as the second-largest cocoa producer in the world and was celebrated for its high-quality cocoa, thanks to the incentives provided by the Cocoa Board. However, cocoa farmers began to face hardships as the board declined due to corruption.
“We had an issue; the abolished cocoa board was significantly contributing to productivity, production incentives, input provision, and processing, which made Nigerian cocoa stand out in West Africa,” he explained. “But price manipulations that jeopardized our farmers’ livelihoods led them into poverty; it was this short-changing that ultimately ruined the cocoa board.
“Instead of maintaining the marketing aspect, the entire framework for developmental initiatives was dismantled. That’s what I meant by throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”
