Abia State Government Assures Cocoa Farmers Of Economic Enhancement And Maximum Profitability

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ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT ASSURES COCOA FARMERS OF ECONOMIC ENHANCEMENT AND MAXIMUM PROFITABILITY

Abia State Government has assured cocoa farmers in the state of maximum support in the production and sales of cocoa produce in the state.

The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr Ikechukwu Lekwachi Emetu, FNSE, made this known during a stakeholder meeting in his office at Government House, Umuahia.

Emetu stated that the current administration in the state ably led by Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR is poised to enhance the cocoa production index of the state by establishing six pilot cocoa estates in the state as captured in the 2025 budget. He promised to implement policies that would favour cocoa farmers and other key actors in the state.

While addressing the stakeholders, Emetu stated that the primary objective of the new policy is to reach the grassroots and bring people out of poverty, especially the farmers. He called for concerted efforts by the major actors in the industry to align with the government’s initiatives towards harnessing the inherent benefits of cocoa production and marketing in the state.

He frowned at the nefarious activities of some individuals who hide under the aegis of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), Abia State Chapter to exploit the suffering farmers of their rightful economic benefits by colluding to fix prices, thereby disadvantaging the farmers. He stressed the need for effective monitoring and documentation of the activities of cocoa merchants operating in the state to strengthen the traceability of the produce.

Deputy Governor Emetu expressed the government’s willingness to increase the quantity of cocoa production and the quality of the produce by engaging in value-added activities like automated cocoa dehydration which will increase the revenue base of the state.

Speaking, the Chairman of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN) Abia State Chapter, Sir John Kalu noted that the price difference between Abia and neighboring states catalyzes the smuggling of cocoa produce which negatively affects the production index of the state and its revenue generation. He appealed to the state government to beam its light on the activities of all the actors in the industry in order to give the farmers a breath of fresh air.

The meeting had the attendance of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), Merchants and Exporters of Cocoa operating in Abia State, Ministries of Agriculture as well as Trade and Commerce.