The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Muhammed Sabo Nanono has revealed that the federal government generated over $313 million (N125.2 billion) from the sale of cocoa in the last three decades.
With Nigeria losing its leadership position in terms of cocoa production to the Ivory Coast, Ghana and Indonesia, Sabo Nanono said plans are ongoing to boost the nation’s local capacity to become one of the largest cocoa producers in the world in the future.
He made this known at the formal opening of the newly established National Secretariat of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Nanono attributed the decline in production to bad weather, old trees that have not been rehabilitated, lack of improved seedlings, poor quality due to pest infestation and pesticide contamination, among others.
The minister however reiterated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to the development of all sectors of the economy, especially agriculture.
“Cocoa production is on the front burner of the government despite the economic downturn the world has been experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Nanono said.
