The Federal Government has launched the distribution of one million improved hybrid cocoa seedlings as part of efforts to revitalise Nigeria's cocoa industry, increase farmers' incomes, boost export earnings and create employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
The initiative, flagged off on Wednesday at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in Ibadan, Oyo State, is a flagship programme under the National Cocoa Development Plan and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, described the rollout as a strategic national intervention aimed at restoring Nigeria's competitiveness in the global cocoa market.
According to the minister, the programme goes beyond the distribution of planting materials, representing a comprehensive effort to transform the cocoa value chain and reposition the country as a leading producer of the commodity.
"Today's event is not merely the distribution of planting materials. It marks the beginning of a strategic national intervention to restore the strength of Nigeria's cocoa industry, improve farmers' livelihoods, increase export earnings and reposition Nigeria as a major player in the global cocoa economy," Kyari said.
He noted that Nigeria possesses the natural conditions, experienced farmers, research capacity and private sector potential required to become one of the world's leading cocoa-producing nations, but said the sector has been hampered by ageing plantations, low productivity, inadequate investment, limited access to improved seedlings, climate change and weak value addition.
To address these challenges, Kyari said the Federal Government is implementing reforms covering productivity enhancement, sustainability, financing, research, extension services, market access and local processing.
At the heart of the programme, he explained, is the nationwide distribution of one million improved cocoa seedlings developed by CRIN. The climate-smart seedlings are high-yielding, mature earlier than conventional varieties and are resistant to diseases while adapting better to changing climatic conditions.
He said the seedlings would be used to rehabilitate ageing cocoa plantations and establish new commercial farms across cocoa-producing states.
The minister added that government would complement the initiative with extension services to promote improved agronomic practices, while expanding local processing capacity to encourage the production of value-added cocoa products instead of exporting raw beans.
He also disclosed that Nigeria is strengthening traceability systems and farm mapping to ensure compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), thereby improving access to premium international markets.
According to him, the National Cocoa Management Committee and the National Task Force on EUDR are working closely with stakeholders to implement the necessary standards required for international trade.
Kyari urged state governments, research institutions, financial institutions, development partners, processors, exporters and private investors to deepen collaboration and investment across the cocoa value chain.
He also encouraged cocoa farmers to maximise the opportunity presented by the improved seedlings by adopting modern farming techniques and working closely with agricultural extension officers to improve productivity and sustainability.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, described cocoa as one of Nigeria's most strategic agricultural commodities and a major source of livelihood for thousands of farming households.
He said the successful production of one million improved cocoa seedlings by CRIN under the Federal Government's Public-Private Partnership framework demonstrates the value of collaboration among government, research institutions, the private sector, development partners and farming communities.
Ogunbiyi expressed optimism that the programme would increase cocoa productivity, raise farmers' incomes, generate employment, improve foreign exchange earnings and strengthen Nigeria's competitiveness in the global cocoa market.
He called on beneficiaries to make effective use of the improved seedlings and adopt recommended agronomic practices to ensure the success of the initiative.
In a goodwill message, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, represented by the Ajiroba of Ibadan, Prof. Soji Adejumo, pledged the support of Ibadan communities for the Federal Government's agricultural policies aimed at improving farmers' livelihoods and achieving food security.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, cocoa farmer Alaba Adegoke assured the government that farmers would utilise the improved seedlings responsibly to increase production and improve their economic well-being.
The highlight of the event was the distribution of improved cocoa seedlings to farmers from the country's 14 cocoa-producing states.