Cocoa production in Nigeria, the world’s fourth-largest grower, will increase 28 percent for the main harvest that starts next month, the country’s industry association said.

Output for the October to January harvest will rise to 320,000 metric tons from 250,000 tons a year earlier, Robo Adhuze, a spokesman for the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, said yesterday in Akure, in the western part of the country. Nigeria also has a smaller crop that runs from March to June that usually adds another 35,000 tons, Adhuze said, according to Bloomberg

Nigeria is helping farmers to grow more beans and last year distributed seeds that are resistant to diseases such as Black pod to boost crop prospects by 2015. Demand will probably outpace supply for a second year in the 12 months starting next month as production falls in West Africa, the main growing region, and consumption increases.

“Black pod disease was witnessed all over, but the impact on production was minimal owing to pest control,” Adhuze said.

Ivory Coast is the biggest grower, followed by Ghana and Indonesia, according to the London-based International Cocoa Organization. Cocoa prices in London climbed 17 percent this year.

Freeanijoo: I think i like the pace Nigeria ODUA REPUBLIC is taking to reclaim her lost glory.

Nigeria realised about $900million from the export of Cocoa and Cocoa products in 2012. This was disclosed weekend by the federal government

Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Agaqnga, represented by the acting permanent secretary, Mr Olakunle Sogboola, stated this during the National Sensitisation Workshop of the project on Sanitary PhytoSanitary Standards Capacity Building in Africa in Abuja.

Aganga, who noted that cocoa was the second largest foreign exchange earner after crude oil for the country and generates over two million jobs directly and indirectly along its value chain, said the global market for the product was very huge, growing at an average of three per cent per annum.

Relying on statistics, the minister pointed out that Nigeria’s cocoa export and cocoa products have equally grown over the years by an average of 40 per cent per annum and a cumulative of 280 per cent from $215million in 2006 to $822.8million last year.

He added: “Nigeria is the world’s 4th largest producer and exporter of cocoa. Paradoxically, over 90 per cent of the cocoa produced is exported, our domestic consumption of this strategic commodity is barely three per cent.Given this scenario, not only is increased local consumption encouraged, the pursuance of value addition in our export drive has also become the ultimate goal of substantially reducing the export of raw cocoa and ensuring stable and improved income for our farmers.”

The minister noted that, the primary goal of the country was to secure a sustainable market for cocoa and cocoa products as well as effort to protect food safety and treats of pesticides and contaminants to human health.

“It is expected that at the end of the implementation of this project in Nigeria, we would have trained adequate personnel capable of conducting in-depth analysis of cocoa and other food products, in addition to well-equipped and functional laboratories, which will conform to any SPS regulation anywhere in the world, ” he added.

Aganga said that his ministry and the federal ministry of agriculture would continue to encourage the development of farmers and commodity associations for proper orientation and education on SPS issues with a view to promoting and strengthening global market access for the nation’s agricultural and non-oil products.

Nigeria is helping farmers to grow more beans and last year distributed seeds that are resistant to diseases such as Black pod to boost crop prospects by 2015. Demand will probably outpace supply for a second year in the 12 months starting next month as production falls in West Africa, the main growing region, and consumption increases.

Relying on statistics, the minister pointed out that Nigeria’s cocoa export and cocoa products have equally grown over the years by an average of 40 per cent per annum and a cumulative of 280 per cent from $215million in 2006 to $822.8million last year.

Ayekotoo: federal government doesn't have any business being in Agricultural business. it should be the sole responsibility of the state government. period!

Tolexander: Taharqa!
Is it APC at work or PDP?

berem: .....and yet a 450grammes of Ovaltine, Milo and Bournvita goes for N650 to N700? What an achievement!!

taharqa:

[size=18]GEJ[/size]





....and okay, to some extent:

the State Govts of the 14 Cocoa Producing States. And the Farmers, Processors of course

Tolexander: why hasn't the same GEJ replicate the same thing on the groundnut cultivation in the north?

Rad1cal:

Frustrated and sad child representing the Anger and Pain Criminals identified.

demelza: Well you cant blame the farmers for that, they have done their job by growing the crop.
If only the north can remove their eyes from oil for one minute and concentrate on groundnut production.

Ayekotoo:

its not everyone u rain abuses and insults on.

berem: Am not talking of groundnut here. My main concern is cocoa. Why should Nigeria export cocoa when we don't have enough to go round?

demelza: The other groundnut post wasnt in response to yours, I placed it in a anoda paragraph.
Why shouldnt they export to where they can get maximum profit? Besides where are the industries to convert this cocoa into finished products

berem: Does it mean cocoa is not processed in Nigeria? How does Cadbury, Nestle and co. get the processed cocoa? Is it imported from another country?