Nigeria ranks as Africa’s fourth-largest cocoa producer, contributing significantly to the continent’s export commodities Africa 2025 landscape. With global demand surging due to the chocolate industry’s needs and premium pricing, Nigeria’s cocoa exports rose 606% in Q4 2024 to ₦1.2 trillion. Cocoa farming offers lucrative opportunities for Nigerian farmers. 

This guide provides practical steps for successful cocoa cultivation in Nigeria’s tropical climate, alongside export market insights and strategies for joining trade networks. 

Understanding Nigeria’s Climate Pattern

Nigeria’s cocoa belt, spanning states like Ondo, Cross River, Osun, and Oyo, features ideal conditions: temperatures of 21-32°C, annual rainfall of 1,500-2,000mm, and well-drained loamy soils with pH 6-7.5. These align with cocoa’s requirements, enabling year-round growth in humid equatorial zones.​

The crop thrives in shaded environments, avoiding direct sun to prevent pod scorching. In Nigeria’s rainy season (March-October), focus on drainage to combat waterlogging; during dry harmattan spells (December-February), mulching preserves moisture. Recent data shows Nigeria produced approximately 270,000-320,000 tons annually, with Q1 2025 exports valued at over ₦1.32 trillion, driven by global shortages and naira devaluation.

Climate-Specific Tips for Growing Cocoa Profitably in Nigeria

1. Land Preparation and Site Selection

Choose elevations below 300m with partial shade from tall trees like oil palm, plantain, or Gliricidia. Clear land manually or mechanically, avoiding deep tillage that harms soil structure. Test soil for nutrients via local agricultural extension services; amend with lime if pH is below 6. Create raised beds (1m wide, 30cm high) for drainage in high-rainfall areas like Cross River.

2. Selecting Quality Seedlings and Planting

Use high-yield, disease-resistant varieties like CRIN hybrids (CRIN 53, Amazon, CRIN 26), developed by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN). Source certified seedlings from CRIN or licensed nurseries, ensuring they are 6-12 months old.

Plant at 3m x 3m spacing (1,111 trees/ha) during rain onset (April-May). Dig 50cm deep x 50cm wide holes, mix topsoil with 5kg poultry manure or cocoa pod ash per hole, and interplant with shade crops like plantain suckers. Proper spacing boosts survival to 90% and yield to 1-2 tons/ha by year 5.

3. Maintenance, Fertilisation, and Pruning

Apply NPK 10-10-10 fertiliser (200-300g/tree/year) in three splits: post-planting, peak rainy season, and pre-dry season. Mulch with dried cocoa pod husks (10cm layer) to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and recycle nutrients. Prune annually after harvest: remove chupons (basal shoots), dead branches, and overcrowded canopy to 4-5m height for better light penetration and disease control.

Irrigate young trees during harmattan using watering cans or low-cost drip systems. Regular weeding reduces competition.

4. Pest and Disease Management

Key threats: Mirids/Capsids (sap-sucking bugs), black pod rot (Phytophthora), and swollen shoot virus. Monitor weekly; use neem oil or cypermethrin for mirids, copper oxychloride fungicide weekly during rains for black pod. Remove and burn infected pods/materials. Resistant CRIN varieties reduce chemical needs by 30-50%.

Biological controls like neem seed extract are farmer-friendly and eco-compliant for exports.

5. Harvesting, Fermentation, and Drying

Harvest ripe pods (yellow/orange, rattle when shaken) every 10-14 days; main crop October-February, light crop May-July. Split pods with machetes, extract beans with pulp, heap in fermentation boxes or banana leaves for 5-7 days (turn daily). Sun-dry to 7% moisture (crackling sound, brown colour) on mats or platforms for 5-7 days.

Quality fermentation yields premium “fine flavour” beans fetching 20% higher export prices. Store in jute bags in cool, ventilated barns.

Cocoa farming success hinges on understanding and adapting to climatic factors:

• Temperature: Moderate temperatures are ideal for cocoa growth. While the lowest temperatures, about 21°C, promote growth, maximum temperatures exceeding 32°C can stress plants and lower yields.
• Rainfall: It’s essential to have enough evenly distributed rainfall. Drought and excessive rain can harm cocoa production. During dry seasons, farmers should monitor rainfall trends and implement water-saving measures.
• Sunlight: Adequate sunlight promotes pod growth and photosynthesis. Agroforestry is essential for managing shade since too much direct sunshine can harm young plants.
• Humidity and Wind: Strong winds and high relative humidity harm cocoa by encouraging disease and causing physical harm to plants. Proper spacing and windbreaks can lessen these effects. 

How Nigerian Farmers Can Integrate Climate-Resilient Practices for Sustainable Profitability

Climate change poses increasing challenges such as erratic rainfall, droughts, and flooding, threatening Nigeria’s agricultural future. Adopting climate-resilient practices is essential for sustaining cash crop profitability:

• Agroforestry: Growing trees alongside crops improves soil fertility, provides shade, reduces erosion, and sequesters carbon. For cocoa, shade trees protect young plants from heat stress and wind damage.
• Water Management: Techniques like drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and mulching conserve moisture and improve water use efficiency, which are crucial during dry periods.
• Crop Diversification: Avoiding monocropping by cultivating multiple crops or integrating livestock reduces vulnerability to climate shocks and market changes.
• Drought-Tolerant Varieties: Switching to drought-resistant root and tuber crops like cassava helps offset climate risks and stabilise incomes.

Access to Inputs and Credit: Facilitating smallholder farmers’ access to quality seeds, fertilisers, and affordable credit enhances productivity and resilience