FG Flags Off Distribution of 1 million High-yield Cocoa Seedlings to Rebuild Nigeria’s Cocoa Industry

News in Brief:

—Nigeria flags off the distribution of one million improved hybrid cocoa seedlings at CRIN in Oyo State as part of the National Cocoa Development Plan.

—The high-yield seedlings will be deployed for rehabilitating ageing plantations and establishing new commercial cocoa farms as the government provides extension support.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has flagged off the nationwide distribution of one million improved hybrid cocoa seedlings at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in Oyo State as part of an effort to revitalise Nigeria’s cocoa sector.

These seedlings form part of the National Cocoa Development Plan to rehabilitate ageing plantations. It will help raise farmers' income, increase export earnings and create jobs across the cocoa belt.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, described the event as the commencement of a strategic national intervention to restore the industry and reposition the country in the global cocoa market.

“Our objective is clear. We must build a modern, resilient, and globally competitive cocoa industry that delivers prosperity for farmers while contributing significantly to national development,” Kyari stated at the ceremony.

CRIN‑Bred Seedlings and Agronomic Support

According to the ministry, the one million seedlings were developed by CRIN and are improved hybrids. They combine higher yields, earlier maturity, disease resistance and climate‑adaptation traits. The seedlings are earmarked for both the rehabilitation of ageing farms and the establishment of new commercial cocoa plantations across Nigeria, the ministry said.

To maximise the benefit of the planting material, the government pledged extension support to train farmers in recommended agronomic practices and to encourage adoption of innovations that increase productivity and sustainability.

Addressing Deeper Structural Problems

In his address, Minister Kyari listed the factors that weakened Nigeria’s cocoa competitiveness to include: ageing plantations, declining productivity, limited access to improved planting materials, climate change impacts, insufficient investment, and low levels of value addition.

Noting the availability of suitable ecological conditions, experienced farmers, strong research institutions, and a growing private sector, the minister affirmed Nigeria’s potential to become one of the world’s leading cocoa producing nations.

He said the National Cocoa Development Plan aims to tackle the highlighted challenges through coordinated policies on productivity, sustainability, research, finance, market access and processing.

The minister also emphasised a push to expand local processing capacity as a deliberate policy to move the sector away from raw‑bean export dependency and to capture higher value within the country, while inviting greater private‑sector participation to scale investment, technology and market linkages. 

“To our cocoa farmers, today’s programme presents a significant opportunity. The improved seedlings you are receiving are valuable national assets. I encourage you to adopt recommended agronomic practices, work closely with extension officers, and embrace innovations that will improve productivity and sustainability,” the Minister added.

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, represented by the Ajiroba of Ibadan, Prof. Soji Adejumon, pledged continued support from Ibadan communities for the government's agricultural policies. 

Alaba Adegoke, speaking for beneficiaries, expressed optimism towards the intervention,  pledging that the seedlings would be put to good use to increase production and incomes.