• Expert advises cocoa states to mobilise youths, forests for production
Analysing the sector, stakeholders have X-rayed the challenges and suggested ways to maximise the economy of cash crops, especially, cocoa bean production and value chain.Dr Patrick Adebola, Executive Director, the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria , Ibadan, Oyo State, said most of the cocoa trees in Nigeria had been existing for about 40 to 60 years or more.
Adegoke argued that cocoa production had suffered neglect for over 50 years, and advocated strategic cocoa policies, management and support. “The Cocoa Research Institute implores farmers to come for improved planting materials that are high-yielding and will produce fruits early in about two years.”
Meanwhile, Special Adviser to the Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade on Cocoa Development and Control, Dr Oscar Ofuka, has noted that cocoa is the major source of revenue generation in the state, trailing federal allocations from oil proceeds. Unstable prices of cash crop in the international markets have also affected morale, as lower prices and discrimination against certain producers have discouraged farmers, investors and aggregators from investing in dynamics that could boost production. Bush burning had also affected thousands of hectares of cocoa and cashew plantations, Oloniruha said.