By Dipo Olowookere
Cocoa exporters in Nigeria have appealed to the Federal Government to create an enabling environment that will return the country back to its cocoa glory days.
Speaking in Ondo State, Secretary-General of Cocoa Exporters Association of Nigeria (CEAN), Mr Kayode Babade, pointed out that Nigeria has all it takes to take over the leadership in cocoa production in the world if farmers and exporters were adequately encouraged by the government.
He recalled when the country was a top player in terms of quality and quantity in the global cocoa production in the 1960s and 1970s.
Mr Babade said, “CEAN had in the past contributed immensely to the growth and expansion of cocoa in the country by providing loans and herbicides to farmers to enable them increase production.
“With this federal government initiative, we are equally ready to further partner the farmers to ensure that the federal government vision on increased cocoa production comes to reality very soon.”
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Agriculture, Mr Audu Ogbeh, for inaugurating the Cocoa Re-launch Committee aimed at diversifying the economy to an agric-based. The association’s scribe noted that this development will boost the vision to make Nigeria the world’s largest cocoa producer.
