Nigeria’s plan to earn $4 billion from 500,000 metric tonnes of cocoa in the 2025 season faces serious challenges as cocoa farmers struggle with limited access to high-yield seedlings.
The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) has raised concerns over the shortage of new cocoa varieties that can produce fruit within just 18 months.
While global demand and prices for cocoa have surged, many Nigerian farmers are still forced to rely on old cocoa varieties that take up to seven years to mature.
CFAN President, Adegoke Adeola, noted that the supply of the improved seedlings falls far short of demand. He called on the federal government to boost funding for research institutes and expand nurseries to increase the availability of the seedlings. Without access to the newer, faster-growing varieties, the country risks missing its ambitious production target.
Farmers like Jimoh Quadri in Ogun State and Biodun Oyefeso have reported increased earnings from the new variety but expressed frustration at the current supply limitations.
Due to the recent price surge, young Nigerians are also showing more interest in cocoa farming, but limited access to inputs remains a hurdle.
Experts, including Dr. Yemisi Lawal from the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN)
and Dapo Ladegbaye from the Cocoa Farmers Alliance of Africa emphasised the need for greater government support to sustain the sector’s growth.
They highlighted that cocoa farming now represents a real economic opportunity and a viable path for youth engagement and national development.
Meanwhile, the federal government has launched a 10-year National Cocoa Plan and inaugurated a Technical Implementation Committee. This plan aligns with the broader goal of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030, but success will depend heavily on addressing supply chain gaps and input challenges at the farm level.
