Ondo State Youths Urged to Join Cocoa Industry

News in Brief:

—Stakeholders have called on young people to embrace cocoa farming as ageing farmers, old plantations and labour shortages continue to reduce production in Ondo State.

—The Ondo State Government says it is promoting climate-smart cocoa cultivation and youth participation to reverse the decline in output.

Stakeholders in Nigeria's cocoa value chain have called on young people to embrace cocoa farming to reverse the steady decline in production in Ondo State, the country's leading cocoa-producing region.

For decades, cocoa served as a major driver of Nigeria's economy, financing landmark infrastructure projects such as Cocoa House in Ibadan. However, the industry is now grappling with ageing farmers, old plantations, rising production costs, insecurity and declining youth participation.

Findings indicate that many cocoa farmers in Ondo State are elderly, while numerous plantations have exceeded their productive lifespan, raising concerns about the future of the sector as older farmers retire.

Youth Disinterest, Labour Shortages Slow Industry Growth

The National President of the Cocoa and Plantain Farmers Association of Nigeria (CPFAN), Ayodele Ojo, said cocoa production has experienced a prolonged decline nationwide.

He attributed part of the problem to the growing reluctance of young people to pursue agriculture.

"Young people today want quick money. They do not want to spend time working on farms. Farming requires patience, and many youths are not willing to wait for returns," Ojo said.

He noted that cocoa farming once generated sufficient income to build homes and support families but said changing economic realities have reduced its attractiveness.

Ojo also identified insecurity and an acute shortage of farm labour as major obstacles affecting production.

According to him, many experienced farmers now struggle to hire workers and increasingly manage their farms without adequate labour support.

Farmers Seek Stronger Government Support

The CPFAN president called for the establishment of a functional cocoa board similar to those operating in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire to strengthen regulation and provide direct support to farmers.

He argued that a dedicated cocoa board could purchase cocoa directly from producers while improving coordination across the industry.

Ojo also alleged that agricultural support programmes are sometimes undermined by the diversion of farm inputs and chemicals intended for farmers.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Olaleye Akinola, acknowledged the decline in cocoa production, attributing it to urbanisation, ageing plantations, climate change and poor farm management practices.

He disclosed that the state previously graded about 350,000 metric tonnes of cocoa annually but now records significantly lower volumes, with approximately 77,000 metric tonnes graded last year.

According to Akinola, expanding urban development has reduced land available for cocoa cultivation, while many plantations, some between 50 and 60 years old, no longer produce at optimal levels.

He added that changing weather patterns have reduced the effectiveness of some pesticides and fungicides, making climate change another major challenge for cocoa farmers.

Government Encourages Youth Participation

Akinola said the state government, through the Cocoa Revolution and Development Agency and its development partners, is promoting climate-smart, high-yielding cocoa varieties while training young people in modern production techniques.

He explained that youths are being encouraged to form cooperative clusters to improve access to government programmes and agricultural interventions.

However, he acknowledged that access to land remains a significant barrier, noting that cocoa is a perennial crop requiring long-term investment, making it less attractive to young farmers without secure land ownership.

Some young people, however, maintain that inadequate government support remains the biggest obstacle preventing greater youth participation in the cocoa industry.