Nigeria’s cocoa sector is on the verge of transformative growth as government agencies, industry leaders, and farmers collaborate to strengthen the value chain, align with global regulations, and ensure sustainable practices.
These resolutions were detailed in a communiqué issued on Friday following the 3rd National Cocoa Festival held at Calabar’s Metropolitan Hotel, led by the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) and the Cocoa Roundtable Initiative (CORI).
As a significant contributor to the national economy, Nigeria’s cocoa industry faces urgent challenges in complying with the European Union’s Deforestation Regulations (EUDR). In response, CFAN and CORI gathered stakeholders from across the cocoa industry, both local and international, at the festival tagged Calabar 2024, which aimed to advance EUDR compliance and foster sustainability through youth entrepreneurship. Over 300 participants attended this pivotal event.
The two-day event, themed “Calabar 2024 on the Roles of the National Cocoa Management Committee and Others in Mobilising Stakeholders into European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Compliance and Cocoa Value Addition and Youth Entrepreneurship: Key to Nigeria Cocoa Sustainability,” highlighted crucial actions needed to advance local processing, promote sustainability, and address key issues, such as adulterated agrochemicals and outdated land tenure systems.
The communiqué, presented by Mr. Kazeem Sanni of the Rainforest Alliance, emphasized the need to update forest cover and land use maps in cocoa-producing regions for EUDR alignment and proposed a national traceability system to improve transparency and compliance.
Additionally, the communiqué advocated for increased youth and private sector engagement in cocoa-related ventures to secure the sector’s future. “We are committed to building a sustainable, youth-inclusive cocoa industry,” it stated, underscoring the need for government backing and regulatory reforms.
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Outlined actions included expanding local cocoa processing and consumption to enhance domestic value and establishing a comprehensive national cocoa policy. An awareness campaign on EUDR compliance and other regulations was recommended, alongside efforts to eliminate adulterated agrochemicals from the market.
Further recommendations promoted sustainable farming practices, training for farmers on agrochemical safety, crop diversification, and updating forest cover and land use data in cocoa-producing states.
The communiqué concluded with a strategic call for alignment on key goals, emphasizing the importance of political commitment and collaboration across all levels of the cocoa value chain. It called on government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to reinforce their support for the industry, particularly in implementing policies that promote environmental sustainability, infrastructure development, and regulatory improvements.
With these initiatives, Nigeria’s cocoa sector aims to meet stringent international standards, particularly those of the European Union, while fostering local economic growth and job creation. The festival marked a significant step toward mobilizing resources, engaging stakeholders, and laying the groundwork for a thriving, globally competitive cocoa industry.
As Nigeria advances its efforts, the recommendations from the Calabar 2024 festival set a clear roadmap toward a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cocoa industry, positioned to meet the challenges of a changing global marketplace and secure a prosperous future for Nigerian cocoa farmers and industry stakeholders alike.
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