By Olayinka Olawale
The Managing Director of AFEX Exchange Trade Ltd., Mr Kamaldeen Raji, has called for a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement to boost cocoa production in the country.
Raji, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday, said that government alone could not revive the sector.
He said that the country required a combined effort to improve cocoa production and agriculture as a whole.
“If we want to boost agriculture and cocoa plantation, it is beyond the government; it should be a public-private partnership.
“Last year, AFEX started a journey of one million cocoa seedlings and it is in collaboration with some strategic partners.
“We are producing seedlings for cocoa farmers to be able to rejuvenate plantations.
“The old cocoa trees are producing less beans, while the new ones with better varieties produce better and higher yields.
“That is indirectly an increase in revenue generation for farmers.
“If government should play its roles and the private sector is playing its own, it is going to be a combined effort in improving cocoa production and agriculture as a whole,’’ he said.
The AFEX boss said that the partnership would improve the country’s gross domestic products (GDP) and be of immense benefits to farmers as well as those involved in value addition.
“It is going to be beneficial to all,” the managing director said.
Raji also said that the removal of foreign duties on cocoa and other derivative was a positive development for Nigeria agricultural space.
He urged cocoa farmers to strive to meet the specifications of the global need to continue to benefit from the policy.
”When you move anything outside the country, you think of how much is the rate, how much did you expend on producing and how much is the duty at the end of the day.
“If you add all of these together, it is the cost to you and when you get the cost and the star price is a bit above it, you will think it is not worth it.
“I don’t need to go that route again, as I may as well look for local buyers around me for the product to be sold out.
“But now, when the duty is removed, it means there’s a bigger margin for anyone that does it well and meets the specification of the global need,” he said.
Raji said that this was a positive development for Nigerian agricultural space, as it meant that cocoa farmers needed to go back to the plantation.
“You don’t need to abandon it. Some of the first and most memorable places in Nigeria were built from cocoa money. So why can’t we do that now, even with better technology?” he queried.
He added that with such partnership, cocoa farmers should be happy to return to their plantations because there would be a better margin. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chinyere Bassey and ‘Wale Sadeeq
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