Why cocoa yields remain poor in Nigeria

Experts suggest ways to tap from its potentials Statistics have shown that cocoa yields in Nigeria are still lower than what is obtainable in other producing countries around the globe. Nigeria, according to a research by the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC), still struggles with about 250,000 and 300,000 tons annually, compared to […]

• Experts suggest ways to tap from its potentials

Statistics have shown that cocoa yields in Nigeria are still lower than what is obtainable in other producing countries around the globe.

Nigeria, according to a research by the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC), still struggles with about 250,000 and 300,000 tons annually, compared to Ivory Coast’s 2,000,000 tonnes.  

The document further shows that the total harvested area amounts to 640,000 ha and the average yield is about 400 kg per ha.

Daily Trust on Sunday reports that 70 per cent of the world’s cocoa beans come from four West African countries. In these countries, more than six million hectares of land are planted with cocoa.  Most farmers are smallholders who traditionally plant their cocoa at random under thinned forest shade.  

At present, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are the largest producers, closely followed by Nigeria and Cameroon. The average yields in these countries, however, remain low because many farms are old and need replanting.  At present, the forest land available for the expansion of the cocoa production are thinning out, making it imperative that further increase in production has to come from an increase in yield of the existing mature trees and the replanting of old unproductive cocoa farms. 

Reasons for low yields

The Director-General of the RMRDC, Professor Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, said cocoa yield improvement in Nigeria was constrained by the age of the farmers, proper management, low farm input, infrastructure and the absence of extension services.

“Most importantly, these include inadequate control of cocoa swollen shoot virus disease and the phytophthora pod rot or black pod disease.  Addition to these is lack of access of farmers to loans and the fact that many cocoa fields are old,’’ he said.

What must be done – Experts

For Nigeria to increase its production, the tonnage per hectare should increase to at least 1,000-1,500kgs from the present 400-500 kg/ha, in addition to bringing back commodity boards.  

Professor Hussaini said there was the need for rehabilitation and replanting of cocoa fields as most cocoa trees are between 30 and 40 years old.  

Dr Toyin Ajumobi, a cocoa farmer, stressed the need for the provision of improved planting materials for replanting efforts to yield the necessary support.

“In Nigeria, the provision of improved planting materials is one of the key elements of the government supported replanting schemes.  The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said it distributed 300,000 hybrid cocoa seedlings to farmers and the Agricultural Development Programmes in the South-West, South-South, North-Central and South-East geopolitical zones. Likewise, the Cocoa Research Institute (CRIN) has produced high-yielding varieties termed series TC1-8. All these efforts are needed for the country to catch up with other producing countries like Ivory Coast,’’ he said.

Why Nigeria should tap from cocoa potential

According to the document from the RMRDC, the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) forecasts a 10 per cent increase in the world cocoa production and a 25 per cent increase of the cocoa price in the next decade. 

Based on this forecast, the total cocoa production will be about 4,700,000 tonnes in 2022-2023.  For Nigeria to be part of the envisaged increment, the document shows that a 10 per cent increase in production is needed within the next decade, and this has to come from a higher yield per ha of cocoa farms.   

To enhance foreign exchange generation, Professor Ibrahim noted the need for increased secondary processing of cocoa beans.  He said that at the present, the role of cocoa certification in raising farmers’ income and promoting ecologically sound cultivation methods was yet to be fully appreciated and implemented in Nigeria; and certification projects presently have little impact. 

This, he added, had to be adequately addressed, as without doubt, the certification initiatives would become very important in years to come, in view of global outcry against deforestation and as other countries with technical capabilities, such as China, which exported 500kg of cocoa beans in October 2020.

According to a report published by Allied Market Research, the global cocoa market garnered $12.87 billion in 2019, and is estimated to generate $15.50 billion by 2027. 

The increase in demand for chocolates across the world and rise in demand from Europe and North America regions fuel the global cocoa market growth. Although the global chocolate industry is valued at over $150bn, West Africa, which accounts for about 70 per cent of cocoa beans supply, receives less than $6bn (4%) of the total market. This is due to the fact that the 80 per cent of cocoa market revenue is generated at the secondary processing stage, which is dominated by Europeans and Asians. It is the area where massive potential lies and where African cocoa bean producers need to invest in. 

What FG is doing

The federal government, through the RMRDC, has established a cocoa processing plant at Alade-Idanre, Ondo State for the processing of cocoa beans. The plant pioneered cocoa processing locally and has catalysed the establishment of numerous other cocoa processing plants in the country. 

Among these are the Ile-Oluji Cocoa Processing Company; Olam Cooperative Cocoa Industry, Akure; Stanmark Cocoa Industry, Ondo, and Agro Traders, Akure.  

The Ondo State Government, through a joint venture partner, has bought Council’s equity in the project and has taken full control of the plant. 

Likewise, in order to further exploit the benefits of the cocoa value chain, the Council supported IMIT Nigeria Limited, a small-scale industry in chocolate production with a tempering machine.  This has significantly increased the installed capacity of the factory for different chocolate brands.  Consequently, the company has pioneered the production of dark, white and milk chocolate brands in Nigeria. 

Research and development studies carried out by the RMRDC in collaboration with the CRIN and other research institutes have shown that the pod, which makes up of 60 per cent of the cocoa fruit, has numerous industrial applications.  The pod can be used in the production of animal feeds, black soap, pectins for food and pharmaceutical industries, and fertilizer.  

Studies have shown that cocoa pods can effectively be used to promote nutrient composts of acceptable quality by substituting mineral fertilizer requirements. It contains 1.63 per cent potassium, which makes it useable as a raw material for fertilizer and chemical production. In addition, the growing needs of organically made soaps have made cocoa pods an essential commodity in skincare products.  

In view of the numerous potentials of the cocoa value chain in promoting virile industrial development locally, the RMRDC has hosted a number of investment workshops on cocoa beans and pods processing.  

Presently, the Council is discussing with investors on the establishment of various value-added products in order to enhance productivity and profitability of the cocoa sector in Nigeria and to promote its rebirth for sustainable industrial development.