Nigeria’s cocoa sector is on the cusp of transformative change as authorities businesses, business leaders, and farmers collaborate to strengthen the worth chain, align with international laws, and guarantee sustainable practices.
These have been contained in a communiqué issued on Friday after a pivotal two-day third Nationwide Competition held on the Metropolitan Resort in Calabar, led by the Cocoa Farmers Affiliation of Nigeria (CFAN) and Cocoa Roundtable Initiative (CORI).
Nigeria’s cocoa business, a big contributor to the nationwide economic system, has been going through important challenges in complying with the European Union’s Deforestation Rules (EUDR).
To handle the challenges and leverage alternatives for development, CFAN and CORI convened all related stakeholders within the cocoa business, each native and worldwide, at its third Nationwide Cocoa Competition, tagged Calabar 2024, to deliberate on attaining EUDR compliance and cocoa worth chain sustainability via youth entrepreneurship. The occasion introduced collectively over 300 members.
The 2-day third Nationwide Cocoa Competition was themed: Calabar 2024 on the Roles of the Nationwide Cocoa Administration Committee and Others in Mobilising Stakeholders into European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Compliance and Cocoa Worth Addition and Youth Entrepreneurship: Key to Nigeria Cocoa Sustainability.
The stakeholders outlined key actions to spice up native processing, promote sustainability, and sort out important points like adulterated agrochemicals and outdated land tenure techniques.
The communiqué, which was issued by the chairman of the communiqué drafting committee, Mr. Kazeem Sanni of the Rainforest Alliance, prioritised updating forest cowl and land use maps throughout cocoa-producing areas to align with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and establishing a nationwide traceability system.
The communiqué additionally canvassed for higher youth and personal sector involvement, significantly in cocoa-related companies, to safe the sector’s future.
“We’re dedicated to constructing a sustainable, youth-inclusive cocoa business,” the communiqué indicated, emphasising the pressing want for presidency backing and regulatory reforms.
By investing in infrastructure, climate-smart agriculture, and partnerships with high cocoa-producing nations, Nigeria goals to grow to be a world mannequin in cocoa sustainability and business development.
The communiqué additionally outlined an Motion Plan for Strengthening Nigeria’s Cocoa Trade, which included extra emphasis on boosting native processing and consumption of cocoa merchandise so as to add worth domestically.
“The federal government and NCMC ought to lead in updating and standardising information on the cocoa worth chain by finishing and publishing a nationwide cocoa coverage.”
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The communiqué additionally beneficial launching consciousness campaigns for stakeholders on EUDR and different related laws via collaborations to take away adulterated agrochemicals from the market.
It advocated for sustainable farming practices by encouraging farmers to undertake sustainability initiatives and greatest practices, in addition to strengthening farmers’ coaching on protected agrochemical dealing with and selling crop diversification.
Different suggestions outlined within the communiqué included updating forest cowl and land use maps in all cocoa-producing states.
It urged the federal government to assessment land tenure techniques to enhance land safety for farmers.
It additionally canvassed for the institution of a nationwide traceability system with business consultants for higher transparency and compliance.
The communiqué emphasised the necessity to increase assist for analysis institutes to advance climate-smart agricultural practices and to introduce insurance policies supporting agroforestry practices in cocoa farming for environmental sustainability.
The communiqué advocated creating mechanisms for collaboration and suggestions inside the business and creating an enabling setting for personal sector and youth engagement within the cocoa worth chain.
It additionally known as for enhancements in infrastructure in cocoa-growing areas to assist processing and distribution.
The fluctuating worth of the Naira was additionally a subject, with the communiqué calling for the implementation of insurance policies to stabilise the Naira and simplify farmers’ entry to international change for imports.
The communiqué urged the NCMC to companion with main cocoa-producing nations for information change and business development.
It inspired the federal government and MDAs to create platforms for youth to be taught and have interaction in cocoa-related companies (e.g., chocolate, cleaning soap making) in collaboration with the Cocoa Analysis Institute of Nigeria.
Lastly, the communiqué asserted that if the strategic targets are aligned with robust political assist and business collaboration, Nigeria can elevate its cocoa business for long-term development and sustainability.
