CFAN urges regulatory-only role for new cocoa board to boost Nigeria’s production, global competitiveness 

NIGERIA – The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) has urged the Federal Government to adopt a regulatory-only framework for the proposed National Cocoa Management Board (NCMB), warning that any involvement in commercial trading activities could derail the intended growth and transformation of the sector. 

Speaking to The PUNCH, CFAN President Adeola Adegoke stressed that the Nigerian cocoa industry has stagnated due to decades of structural deficiencies, and only a specialised board focused on regulation, development, and sustainability can reposition it for global competitiveness. 

“We want a board that will be for regulations, development, centralisation and protections but will not be involved in buying and selling. That is the kind of model that my leadership pushed for,” Adegoke said. 

He attributed the industry’s decline to the dissolution of the Nigerian Cocoa Marketing Board in 1986, which he described as a major setback.  

Prior to its scrapping, Nigeria was the second-largest cocoa producer globally and renowned for its high-quality beans, supported by incentives and infrastructure provided by the board. 

However, Adegoke acknowledged that corruption and price manipulation led to the board’s failure, ultimately affecting farmer welfare.  

Since its abolishment, he noted, the sector has operated without sufficient oversight, leaving farmers vulnerable to middlemen and unregulated pricing systems. 

“There is no way to track the industry from one ministry. The price was manipulated, farmers were shortchanged, and their welfare was neglected,” he said. 

To address these challenges, Adegoke proposed a non-commercial NCMB with mandates to enforce pesticide regulations, combat child labour, promote sustainable practices, and support research institutions.

He warned that engaging in cocoa trading would compromise the board’s neutrality and discourage potential investors. 

He called for a coordinated national cocoa agenda that clearly outlines production goals, land targets, and preferred varieties.  

According to him, this strategy must actively involve state and local governments, as they manage the farmlands and local infrastructure needed to implement the plan. 

“The farmlands are in the states, so the states are critical stakeholders. If we have a national agenda, it must stipulate how many hectares we are targeting, what varieties to plant, and expected yields,” Adegoke explained. 

On the NCMB’s projection to grow cocoa production from 300,000 to 500,000 metric tonnes, Adegoke said the target is feasible within two years if effective policies and research support are provided.  

He emphasized the importance of grafting aged cocoa trees in the South-West instead of uprooting them, which requires a well-funded research and extension system. 

He also urged the government to focus on infrastructure, youth incentives, land access, and ecological preservation to ensure the long-term sustainability of cocoa farming in Nigeria. 

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