₦airaland Forum

Cocoa was the backbone of the wonder years of South West under Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

With proceeds from cocoa, he recorded the firsts in many areas of our lives:

✔First television Station in Africa (before France & Ireland)

✔Cocoa House: The tallest building in Sub Sahara Africa......and one of tallest still standing.

✔Free education

✔Free health

✔Liberty Stadium....first in Nigeria

E.t.c e.t.c

For Nigeria, Cocoa is (now) the second largest foreign exchange earner after crude oil. It used to be the first foreign exchange earner

The global market for cocoa is very huge, growing at an average of 3% per annum.

Nigeria is the world’s 4th largest producer and exporter of cocoa. We were formerly the first.

Cocoa is a cash crop that has played an important, vibrant role in rural economies in Nigeria & anywhere in the world where it is grown.

It is a crop that enjoys consistent global demand. It provides families with income and raising the standard of living in thousands of communities where it is grown and harvested.

Newway2:
Why is cocoa regarded as a retirement benefit crop?

U can harvest cocoa for abt 50yrs.

If u plant it now, it will definitely outlive u.

It starts bearing fruits as from 18months.

It's better to start with 2.5acres which is 1ha.

D investment required is not too exorbitant.

U can sell any quantity of cocoa seeds.

D cocoa tree I planted with my grandfather as a lad over 40yrs ago still bear fruits today.

Plant cocoa 2day & retire in peace.

CocoaMaster

The future of Nigerian agriculture lies majorly on plantation agriculture.

Plantations provide a steady pay check, health insurance and every other benefit that other multinationals provide. Its just that it takes a minimum of 3-5 years before bankable results show.

I call this, saving for the rainy day. Posterity measure, generational investment, Inheritance for the children and I can keep on qualifying it...

If u are planting maize & u are not planting FS maize seed, U never plant maize o

saliubello:
Weeding with ease.


Request a video of operation.

Farm smart

I need d video sent to my signature WhatsApp number.

TokyoBulls:
Facts necessary to consider: Nigeria's national average for maize yield is 1.8 tons per hectare. Some local seed companies have seeds with yield potential of 5 to 7 tons per hectare. There are improved imported hybrid seeds that promise 5 to 10 tonnes, some as high as 15 tons per hectare for sweet corn. So all in all, the following factors determine your yield: 1. Seed, 2. Soil, 3. Agronomy practices, 4. Fertilizer application, 5. Weather, 6. Spacing

Very aptly said.

Meanwhile, to know more on seed classifications, read ds thread.....

https://www.nairaland.com/3754947/agro-seeds-classifications-best-class

TokyoBulls:
Facts necessary to consider: Nigeria's national average for maize yield is 1.8 tons per hectare. Some local seed companies have seeds with yield potential of 5 to 7 tons per hectare. There are improved imported hybrid seeds that promise 5 to 10 tonnes, some as high as 15 tons per hectare for sweet corn. So all in all, the following factors determine your yield:
1). Seed,
2) Soil,
3) Agronomy practices,
4). Fertilizer application,
5) Weather, 6. Spacing

Very aptly said

Newway2:
Recent advancement of research in CRIN has led to the registration of eight ( 8 ) new cocoa varieties.

1) CRIN Tc-1

2) CRIN Tc-2

3) CRIN Tc-3

4) CRIN Tc-4

5)  CRIN Tc-5

6)  CRIN Tc-6

7) CRIN Tc-7

8 ) CRIN Tc-8


The attributes of these eight cocoa varieties presented in their genetic formation have addressed most shortcomings of the previous ones.

Additionally, the on-farm assessment of the new varieties have shown a boost in the yield; pest & diseases resistance / tolerance which commutatively will increase the cocoa yield per hectare.

Generally, these 8 hybrids have diverse genetic base; they are early bearing, high yielding with low inputs, resistance to major pests & diseases of cocoa, highly adaptable to cocoa ecologies if Nigeria, very good cocoa beans quality traits etc.


The low inputs for high productivity of these materials will greatly encourage cultivation of cocoa, thus making the venture more profitable & attractive for those involved. It also encourages new entrants to tab into the potentials in cocoa farming.


These together will put the nation on the track of meeting the global quest for more ORGANIC COCOA.

Recent advancement of research in CRIN has led to the registration of eight ( 8 ) new cocoa varieties.

1) CRIN Tc-1

2) CRIN Tc-2

3) CRIN Tc-3

4) CRIN Tc-4

5)  CRIN Tc-5

6)  CRIN Tc-6

7) CRIN Tc-7

8 ) CRIN Tc-8


The attributes of these eight cocoa varieties presented in their genetic formation have addressed most shortcomings of the previous ones.

Additionally, the on-farm assessment of the new varieties have shown a boost in the yield; pest & diseases resistance / tolerance which commutatively will increase the cocoa yield per hectare.

Agricultural productions must therefore be increased considerably to meet the challenge of the Nigerian economy. 


The improvement of genetic potential, agronomic & husbandry practices; including processing & storage of cocoa, will enhance the earnings from the crop.

According to FAO, global yield losses up to 20-30% & tree death of 10% annually have been observed with cocoa.

In Nigeria, recent reports have however shown that losses up to 90-100% have been observed in cocoa plantations due to black pod disease & 25% loss attributed to brown cocoa mirids.

Most of the variety of cocoa presently on the field are genetically deficient to cope with increase demands in the world markets & required inputs into the Nigerian economy due to pre & post harvest related problems of low yields & suscetability to infeststion by pest & diseases.

Nigerian economy was mostly agrarian before the advent of oil boom in 1980. Cocoa, which is widely grown today in fourteen (14) states of the country was mainly known then in the then western geo-political zone.

The export value of crop & the establishment of agro-based industries to process cocoa beans to finished products & the utilization of its by-products in Nigeria have been on the increase over the years.

rajowski:
THIS IS INTERESTING AND I AM KEENLY FOLLOWING. @newway pls i will like to know the kind of land or soil cocoa will do very well on.
pls kindly drop me your mail. i will need to contact u.

Cocoa does well in the tropical rain forest region of SW & SE Nigeria.

Cocoa loves water, humidity & high organic contents.

if your land can guarantee these, then; u are good to go.

U can contact me on WhatsApp tru my signature.

God bless our hustles.

Farming is Timing.
There is a time to plant and a time to harvest.
This is d this me to plant Maize.
For bountiful harvest, plant FS
If u are not planting FS......you are on a looooooooong thing o.

jobzytravels:
Thanks for the info but i had already planted my suckers with the spacing of 2.5mX2.5m, what best management practice would you advice?

if u want to intercrop with cocoa, ultimately; some if d plantain may hv to go in other to accommodate d cocoa.

where's ur farm?
how many acres of plantain do u presently hv?

for further advice, check my signature & add me on WhatsApp

Pls does anybody know d English, Igbo & Hausa name for ds seed? Somebody saw it with a farmer in d village.

it's called "abere" in Yoruba.

it's very bitter. very medicinal.

it's a cash crop (sort of). it fruits after 2years.

it's used to treat diabetes, jedi-jedi or pile.

Do we hv any other uses of it in other part if Nigeria?

For those of us that want to plant maize in ds planting season,.....
We hv FS (Foundation stock) maize seed for sale @500/kg. Location: ibadan
Purity: 95% Germination Rate: 98% Maturity: 75days Colour: Yellow Drought Resistant Fortifications: Vit A & C Requirement/acre: 4 - 6kg Expected Yield: 2 - 4T/acre
Price: 500/kg Minimum order: 10kg Delivery: Nationwide
FS seeds are 1 or 2 classes higher than d all d seeds we see arnd & buy.
Place ur order now (see my signature)

karlxavier:
Sorry i want to ask some questions please. Can one actually get this tonnage you talked about after 18 months or when exactly is one going to get this tonnage you made mention sir. I await your reply.

There's no cash crop that can give u the expected harvest at 1st or 2nd or even 3rd harvest. it takes a little while to reach full maturity & potentials.

D beauty of it is that once it start producing fruit, it won't stop & will continue to grow till it stabilises. At that stage, the crop is said to have been fully matured.

Why is cocoa regarded as a retirement benefit crop?

U can harvest cocoa for abt 50yrs.

If u plant it now, it will definitely outlive u.

It starts bearing fruits as from 18months.

It's better to start with 2.5acres which is 1ha.

D investment required is not too exorbitant.

U can sell any quantity of cocoa seeds.

D cocoa tree I planted with my grandfather as a lad over 40yrs ago still bear fruits today.

Plant cocoa 2day & retire in peace.

CocoaMaster

In the southern part of Nigeria & intact most tropical African countries, plantain is one of the people's staple food items.
Most farmers plant plantain subsistencely just to eat by their households & give few relations.
The few farmers that are into real plantain plantation farming are not maximising the use of the land on which the crop is planted.
The standard spacing for plantain is 3mx3m or 10ftx10ft. Using this measurement, the plant population density is 440/acre or 1,100/hectare.
Now, what happens to the space in between each plant?
The space between each plantain plant could be used to cultivate a variety of crops. But our focus here is the symbiotic relationship between plantain & cocoa.
That's where this writings comes in....
Good agronomical practice (that has been used by our grand fathers) is to plant plantain & cocoa @ 3mx3m. However, Plantain must be planted 1 or 2mnths (max) b4 cocoa at the onset of rain.
Using this planting spacing, U will also have 440/acre or 1,100 cocoa in the same 1ha.
The plantain serves two purposes of shielding the cocoa plants from wind & hot weather. It will also serve as income generation b4 d cocoa starts to fruit.
There are eight new varieties of Cocoa recently released for distribution by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Practically all of them start fruiting within 18 months but earlier under irrigation.
Under minimal agronomic practice conditions they yield btwn 1.5-2 Tons/hectare.
With good agronomic practice condition and irrigation they yield throughout the year with yield per hectare doubling or trippling.
So you should consider an investment in Cocoa.
See my signature for your 18months fruiting, hybrid cocoa seedlings.

In the southern part of Nigeria & intact most tropical African countries, plantain is one of the people's staple food items.

Most farmers plant plantain subsistencely just to eat by their households & give few relations.

The few farmers that are into real plantain plantation farming are not maximising the use of the land on which the crop is planted.

The standard spacing for plantain is 3mx3m or 10ftx10ft. Using this measurement, the plant population density is 440/acre or 1,100/hectare.

Now, what happens to the space in between each plant?

The space between each plantain plant could be used to cultivate a variety of crops. But our focus here is the symbiotic relationship between plantain & cocoa.

That's where this writings comes in....

Good agronomical practice (that has been used by our grand fathers) is to plant plantain & cocoa @ 3mx3m. However, Plantain must be planted 1 or 2mnths (max) b4 cocoa at the onset of rain.

Using this planting spacing, U will also have 440/acre or 1,100 cocoa in the same 1ha.

The plantain serves two purposes of shielding the cocoa plants from wind & hot weather. It will also serve as income generation b4 d cocoa starts to fruit.

There are eight new varieties of Cocoa recently released for distribution by the Federal Government of Nigeria. 

Practically all of them start fruiting  within 18 months  but earlier under irrigation. 

Under minimal agronomic practice conditions they yield btwn 1.5-2 Tons/hectare. 

With good agronomic practice condition and irrigation they yield throughout the year with yield per hectare doubling or trippling. 

So you should consider an investment in Cocoa.

See my signature for your 18months fruiting, hybrid cocoa seedlings

There are eight new varieties of Cocoa recently released for distribution by the Federal Government of Nigeria. 

Practically all of them start fruiting  within 18 months  but earlier under irrigation. 

Under minimal agronomic practice conditions they yield btwn 1.5-2 Tons/hectare. 

With good agronomic practice condition and irrigation they yield throughout the year with yield per hectare doubling or trippling. 

So you should consider an investment in Cocoa.

Contact us For ur improved plantain suckers & 18months yielding cocoa..

We are D #CocoaMaster

The space between each plantain plant could be used to cultivate a variety of crops. But our focus here is the symbiotic relationship between plantain & cocoa.

That's where this writings comes in....

Good agronomical practice (that has been used by our grand fathers) is to plant plantain & cocoa @ 3mx3m.

However & ideally, Plantain should be planted 1 or 2mnths b4 cocoa at the onset of rain.

Using this planting spacing, U will also have 440/acre or 1,100/ha cocoa stand/plant in the same 1ha.

The plantain serves two purposes of shielding the cocoa plants from wind & hot weather. It will also serve as income generation b4 d cocoa starts to fruit.

In the southern part of Nigeria & infact most tropical African countries, plantain is one of the people's staple food items.

Most farmers plant plantain subsistencely just to eat by their households & give few relations.

The few farmers that are into real plantain plantation farming are not maximising the use of the land on which the crop is planted.

The standard spacing for plantain is 3mx3m or 10ftx10ft.

Using this measurement, the plant population density is 440/acre or 1,100/hectare.

Now, what happens to the space in between each plant?

.........

Cocoa is very dependable as pension benefit.
When all energy are gone & u just want to enjoy old age, cocoa will gv u cover.
#PlantCocoaNowItPays

Due to the symbiotic relationship btwn plantain & cocoa especially at the early stage of cocoa, we can not talk of cocoa without talking of plantain.

Cocoa & plantain are like brothers & sisters.

Wherever u find cocoa, u must find plantain

Plantain is used as shade crop for cocoa & temporary income generator b4 cocoa starts fruiting.

Standard spacing for cocoa (& plantain) is 3mx3m or 10ftx10ft.

With ds spacing,

1acre will take 440 suckers & 440 cocoa

1hectare will take 1100 suckers & 1100 cocoa at d same time

COCOA PLANTING TIME TABLE:

September:
Clearing of selected nursery site for land preparation.

October:
* Leveling of site (for new site),
* Erection of shade,
* Construction of beds,
* Filling of pots with top soil into polythene bag (30cmx12.5cm), & * Arrangement of pots on nursery bed.

November:
* Filling of pots with top soil into polythene bag &
* Arrangement of pots on nursery bed continues,
* Construction of nursery shed completed.

December:
* Filling of pots with top soil into polythene bag &
* Arrangement of pots on nursery bed continues,
* Cocoa beans are sown in the pots with their sides down & cover lightly with soil.
* Light watering also follows immediately & thereafter every other day except during harmattam when watering is done daily.
* At every watering, each seedling needs abt 100mm of water.
* Germination is expected withing 14-21days.
* Complete removal of shade shld be done 2-4wks b4 field transplanting.

January:
Completion of seed sowing & routine maintenance practices like watering & pest control.

February-May:
Maintenance of seedlings continues.
* Hardening (adaptation to field-be conditions) of the seedlings between last wk in April-3rd wk in May.


To be continued............

mickybeejay:
what if you now need it at a higher rate......its kind of expensive to me....just my thought though

If u get it cheaper, it's most likely not d 18months hybrid.

However, we can work something out if you buy volume.

Remember,

Standard spacing for cocoa & plantain is 3mx3m or 10ftx10ft.

With ds spacing,

1acre will take 440suckers & 440 cocoa

1hectare will take 1100 suckers & 1100 cocoa at d same time.

God bless our hustles.

We are D CocoaMaster

In d past, cocoa used to mature in 5-7years.......

then it was reduced to 3-4yrs.......

& then to 2-3yrs..........

Today, we hv 18mnths-2yrs early maturing cocoa (flowering/fruiting) hybrid variety.

Ds means u can start enjoying ur farming retirement as early as 2019 if you plant this year, 2017.