Nigeria’s cocoa farmers urge government funding to meet EU deforestation law, boost exports

Cocoa farmers in Nigeria are calling on the federal government for increased funding to support sustainable practices and compliance with the new European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) emphasized the need for transforming and adequately financing the National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC), which is tasked with overseeing compliance with EUDR and supporting the nation’s cocoa sector.

Established in August 2022, the NCMC was set up in response to pressures from CFAN to introduce regulatory oversight to a previously unregulated market. Adeola Adegoke, CFAN’s national president, highlighted that adequate financing of the NCMC is essential to address productivity challenges and regulatory requirements under the EUDR, which is crucial for maintaining Nigeria’s market share in the global cocoa trade.

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“The NCMC plays a vital role in ensuring compliance with global sustainability standards. However, inadequate funding has hindered its full operations in areas like quality control, deforestation programs, child labor monitoring, and climate resilience efforts,” Adegoke noted. He called for subsidies on inputs and support to attract youth participation in cocoa farming.

Data from Nigeria’s foreign trade report shows cocoa exports soared by 304% in Q1 2024, driven by record global cocoa prices and naira devaluation, resulting in higher returns for Nigerian farmers. However, without sustained investment, CFAN warns that the sector’s growth and compliance efforts could be undermined.

Adegoke appealed to President Tinubu, state governors of cocoa-producing regions, and the National Assembly to bolster the legal and financial backing for NCMC to safeguard the industry’s recent gains.