High Labour, Input Costs Threaten Cocoa Production In Ondo

Fresh facts have emerged that Nigeria may not be able to maintain its place as the fourth largest producer of cocoa trailing behind Ivory Coast, Ghana and Indonesia if the challenges militating against its production are not addressed.

Available statistics showed that Ivory Coast produces 2,200,000 tonnes of cocoa beans annually, while Nigeria’s total output is about 340,163 tonnes. In all of this, Ondo State remains the leading cocoa producing state in the country accounting for about 30 per cent of the nation’s total output.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Weekend, the national president of the Cocoa and Plantain Farmers Association of Nigeria (CPFAN), Ayodele Ojo, identified rising labour costs, high prices of farm inputs and insecurity as major threats to cocoa production in Ondo, saying the challenges are making farming increasingly expensive.

Ojo, who spoke in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend said the cost of hiring farm workers had increased significantly, with daily wages rising from between N2,000 and N2,500 to between N5,000 and N6,000.

He said the increase had placed additional financial pressure on cocoa farmers, who also had to contend with the high cost of chemicals and other materials needed to maintain their plantations.

‎According to him, the rising cost of farm inputs and the failure to provide them to farmers at the right time were discouraging investment in cocoa production.

‎“The government is not providing farm inputs to farmers at the right time. The chemicals used for cocoa farming are also very expensive. There are many people who want to go into cocoa farming, but the cost of establishing and maintaining a farm is too high,” he said.

‎The CPFAN president also expressed concern over the ageing population of cocoa farmers, warning that the sector could face a succession challenge if younger Nigerians continued to show little interest in agriculture.

‎He attributed the situation partly to young people’s preference for activities that offer quicker financial returns, rather than farming, which requires patience and sustained investment.

‎Ojo further identified insecurity as a challenge confronting cocoa farmers, recounting how a farmer was attacked and seriously injured on his farm.

‎He said the incident and other security concerns had forced some farmers to stay away from their farms, adding that he was also unable to visit his plantation during the period of heightened insecurity.

‎“At that time, people were afraid to go to their farms. I could not even go to my farm because of the security situation,” he said.

‎He, however, said the situation had improved following the efforts of security agencies, while stressing the need for sustained protection of farmers and their investments.

‎On measures to address the challenges, Ojo called for the timely provision of affordable farm inputs, particularly chemicals and other materials required for cocoa production.

‎He also said improved hybrid cocoa seedlings could attract younger people to the sector, explaining that some varieties could begin producing within two years.

‎The association president disclosed that CPFAN had received improved cocoa seedlings from the government after requesting about 50,000, but called for more consistent support to encourage farmers and expand production.

‎He also advocated increased local processing of cocoa, saying farmers should benefit more from the value chain instead of depending largely on the sale of raw cocoa beans.