By Reporters

Many youths in Southwestern States, particularly in Osun, Ondo and Ekiti, are returning to their villages to acquire land for cocoa farming due to the recent surge in the prices of cocoa at the international markets.

A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that youths are leaving other jobs or transitioning from other occupations to take advantage of the higher market value of cocoa beans.

Some of the youths in an interview with NAN appealed to the government for support to boost cocoa production.

A 43-year-old cocoa farmer in Osogbo, Adekunle Opatoyinbo, said he inherited a large cocoa farm from his late father, but had to return to the village when he realised that prices of cocoa had gone up significantly.

Opatoyinbo, who claimed that he could not secure a job after his university education in 2015, said that the cocoa business, he eventually ventured into, had positively improved his fortune.

He said that due to an increase in prices of cocoa, young men and women, mostly jobless, were now acquiring land for cocoa plantation.

According to him, many acres of land are now being purchased by young farmers for cocoa business with the hope that it will yield the expected monetary gains.

He, however, said that bad weather conditions, pests and lack of modern equipment were some of the challenges facing cocoa farming.

Another young cocoa farmer, Seyi Adegboye, said that it was the profits he made from his cocoa business that was used to build his two houses.

Adeboye said that many unemployed youths were now embracing cocoa farming due to its profitability.

Similarly, Mr Abimbola Adewole, the General-Secretary of Cocoa Growers Association (CGA) in the state, confirmed that more youths were embracing cocoa farming business due to the surge in its global prices.

Adewole said that youths in the diaspora were also acquiring land for cocoa farming and would employ a few people to manage the farmland for them.

He, however, said that with the application of modern methods of cocoa cultivation, old cocoa farmers were now making a lot of money and were able to live a life of comfort.

“I am almost 80 years, and I was born into a cocoa farming family. When we were younger, we were always working on the farm during the weekends.

“Then, it was the crude and harsh method of farming we were applying in our cocoa farming, but modernisation has changed the dynamics now.

“Now, there are tractors for farming, machines to apply and spray chemicals, and improved re-engineered cocoa seedlings for better yields.

“Many youths are now inspired to join cocoa farming business because they see the turn around and the profit old farmers are making.

“Cocoa farmers now use the needed and necessary chemicals and modern technology to boost the cocoa production. This is one of the factors that has increased and improved cocoa production and increased yields and profits,” he said.

He, however, said cocoa is a cash crop that took up to three years to produce pods, which gave farmers ample time to nurture it and get the best and bountiful harvest.

Adewole appealed to more youths to join the cocoa revolution and cocoa value chain, as it had become more profitable.

He advised government to put in place cocoa processing companies, so that cocoa could be processed to finished products locally before exporting.

Adewole described the proposed establishment of National Cocoa Management Board (NCMB) as a lofty idea by the Federal Government, suggesting that the board should be domiciled in a cocoa producing region for it to be effective.

Similarly, the Chairman of Cocoa Growers in Ife East Local Government Area, Alhaji Fatai Seidu, said that an increase in foreign exchange was responsible for the surge in the price of cocoa.

According to Seidu, when the currency of a country is weak, the value of cocoa exports increases in foreign markets, which leads to higher prices.

He said the recent increase in the prices of cocoa was a reward of years of labour for cocoa farmers.

Mr Raphael Oladipupo, a young farmer in Ile-Ife, said the recent unprecedented surge in the prices of cocoa attracted youths to the business.

Oladipupo explained that the development in price of cocoa was the reason behind their choice of going back to villages to acquire farmland for cocoa farming.

“More than ever before, many young people were now acquiring land for cocoa farming as an alternative source of income,” he said.

Another young cocoa farmer in Ile-Ife, Mr Oluwatosin Peter, said he saw cocoa farming as an opportunity to generate more income than what he received monthly.

“It is an opportunity which must be taken advantage of because of its potential for income generation. I am an accountant and it does not pay me much at the end of the month.

“With cocoa farming, at least I get something substantial to support my monthly income, and with time, I will focus solely on cocoa farming because it is lucrative,” he said.

Peter, however, said pests and diseases, climate change, low soil fertility, and environmental degradation were some of the challenges facing cocoa farming.

Another farmer, Mr Ade Kuboyejo said he chose cocoa farming due to its high economic value.

“I inherited the farm from my father before he passed on. I have a family and they all support me in this business. I use it to train my three children and with the current economic situation, I cannot complain but focus on my farming,” he said.

In Ondo State, Mr Sadiq Saliu, a 40-year-old farmer, who said he had been engaging in cocoa farming for 10 years, noted that the sales of cocoa in the 2024 production had changed his life for the better.

Saliu said that the new breed of cocoa coupled with the price had helped farmers “to smile to the bank”, especially in the last production season.

“Engaging in farming, especially in cocoa farming, is a good thing that has happened to me because I can as well talk when my age mates living in the city are talking, but the major challenges we encounter are the issue of herdsmen, non availability of workers and chemicals.

“Herdsmen are no more grazing their cattle in the vicinity again, rather they take the cows down to the forests where we plant our cocoa, plantain and many other crops while those workers we are engaging collect not less than N300,000 yearly per person.

“Also, government is not helping matters as well, we need government subsidised chemicals and other farm tools because the price is high in the market,” he said.

Mr Femi Babatunde, a cocoa merchant, who spoke to NAN on the increase of cocoa prices in Ondo State, said that skyrocketed prices of cocoa beans in the world market had attracted young people to cocoa farming.

“The sharp increase in cocoa prices from around $2,200 per metric ton in 2022 to nearly $11,000 by late 2024 has sparked a wave of interest among young professionals, including former engineers, bankers, and scientists to cocoa farming.

“This trend is especially notable in places such as Ikom in Cross River, as well as parts of Ondo and Osun States.

“Drawn by the sector’s newfound profitability, many of these individuals are now part of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, marking a shift toward agriculture as a sustainable career path,” he said.

According to him, despite the positive trend, the average age of Nigerian cocoa farmers remains around 60.

He said that this underscored the need to sustain and expand youth participation to ensure long-term vitality and innovation within the sector.

Babatunde stated that the innovation of the cocoa seedling was another attraction to cocoa farming as a vocation especially among young Nigerians.

“Recent breakthroughs in agricultural research have led to the introduction of cocoa strains capable of bearing fruit in under two years.

“Institutions like the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) are spearheading these innovations, which aim to significantly boost productivity and shorten the time to harvest.

“These fast-maturing varieties not only promise higher yields but also serve as an incentive for younger farmers seeking quicker returns on investment,” he stated.

Similarly, Mr Dayo Ogundare, a member of Ondo State Cocoa Council and former chairman of Sunshine Cocoa Farmers, commended the Federal Government for the NCMB initiative.

Ogundare said that the initiative would bring more development and growth to the cocoa value chain in the country, especially cocoa producing states. He noted that the establishment of the board would be the best thing that happened to cocoa value chain.

“With this initiative, the era of where the buyer, the farmer, the exporter, the processors doing whatever they like, which does not help cocoa production, and people involved will be gone.

“The Federal Government needs to entrench discipline and good management in the affairs of the board committee, for the betterment of the board. It will help the government, farmers and any other stakeholders in cocoa production,” Ogundare said.

He, therefore, called on government for the construction of rural roads and check-mating the activities of loggers in the cocoa forest area.

“In one hectare of cocoa farmland, there should be minimum of 18 trees to provide shade for the cocoa plantation but the loggers will come after the tree has matured and cut it and destroy the farm,” he noted.

He, however, admonished youths to engage more in cocoa farming, urging them not to see farming as work for poor people.

“As at now, a kilogram of cocoa is N10,000 and if you have 100 kilograms, it is over a million naira. So, I encourage youths to go and do cocoa farming and make money,” he said.

In Ekiti, an agric expert, Mr Juwon Ogunbiyi, said young people returning to village farmlands for cocoa farming was due to a combination of factors which included economic opportunities, and government’s assistance to the sector.

Ogunbiyi said a desire for a more fulfilling life and the potentials for sustainable income were also reasons for the development.

He said that cocoa farming, when done with good practices and efficient management, could offer a significant income, especially when compared to other employment options.

The agric expert said that many young people now saw cocoa farming as a way to build their own business, proving services like farm management, input stores or market gardening ventures.

He added that by engaging in cocoa farming, young people could potentially escape the cycle of poverty and create a more stable future for themselves and their families.

According to him, many young people are drawn to the idea of a more rural lifestyle, with a stronger connection to their land and community, and improvement of facilities in rural areas by government.

“Young people are embracing modern farming techniques to increase yields and improve the quality of their cocoa. The young cocoa farmers are developing strategies to sell their cocoa directly to buyers maximising their profits.

“By producing cocoa, they can improve their livelihood and contribute to the development of their communities,” he said.

Another agricultural expert, Mr Kayode Obayemi, said most cocoa farmers faced challenges of deforestation, where the cocoa production was affected by ageing plantations, poor farm management, soil degradation, pests and other diseases.

Obayemi said the misuse, or overuse of pesticides and chemical fertiliser in many cocoa farms, negatively affected the quality of local water resources and contaminates soils.

He said cocoa production was increasingly affected by climate change; prolonged dry season, less rainfall, extreme temperature and the appearance of new pests and diseases, which could reduce both cocoa yields and quality.

The agric expert said low financial literacy, and lack of access to financial services, often made it difficult for farmers to find a way out of poverty.

“Without access to savings system, loans or micro credits, farmers have no means to buy high quality of cocoa plants and input supplies to re-invest in their farms. Inadequate road infrastructure makes the transport of the harvest more expensive and makes farmers more dependent on intermediary trade, which reduces their revenue,” he said.

Similarly, Mr Oluropo Dada, a former chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ido-Ekiti in Ekiti State, appealed to government at all levels to further empower crop farmers with cocoa seedlings to boost production.

Dada told NAN that young farmers in the state were currently engaging in massive cocoa farming, because its sustainability had high economic value, compared to other food crops.

“If government can sustain giving out inputs and financial incentives, including improved seedlings to farmers, it will change the country’s fortunes and earnings, within two to three years,” he said.

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, said the state’s aim was to recapture its old status as a leading cocoa producer in the country, and increase production for both local and export markets.

According to Boluwade, the state government provides a 50 per cent subsidy on cocoa seedlings to farmers, and encourage replanting with improved varieties, and promoting new farmer participation.

“Government has been distributing fertilisers and fungicides to farmers to support crop health and yield. We have also established community gardens and plans to expand their reach, providing access to improved technology and resources for farmers.

“Ekiti Government has been partnering with both local and international investors to establish processing plants and large-scale plantations, further boosting the cocoa value chain.

“Farmers have been having access to quality agrochemicals and other farming inputs through accredited suppliers, while those yet to get, will soon have them.

“We are promoting the use of improved cocoa technologies, through extension services, and educating farmers on best practices. The state recognises the importance of replacing older, less productive trees with improved seedlings to increase overall yield.

“There are continued efforts to further encourage young people to engage in cocoa farming, providing them with opportunities and support. Initiatives have been made to address post-harvest losses, ensuring that more of the harvested cocoa beans are processed, and marketed successfully,” he said.

The commissioner said the government had always been working to raise awareness about the dangers of bush fires and was encouraging farmers to take preventative measures.

Boluwade explained that the private sector was also encouraged to invest in cocoa farming, including the establishment of processing plants and large-scale plantations.

According to him, the government has continually been encouraging farmers to form cooperative societies to be able to obtain soft loans and access other benefits.

“The state government is already in collaboration with the Federal Government on initiatives to boost cocoa production, such as the distribution of high-yielding seedlings, and the provision of fertilisers and fungicides.

“We have been investing in research and development to identify improved cocoa varieties and farming practices, among others.

“All the strategies are targeted at returning Ekiti to the golden era of the 1970s when the state was reputed globally as one of the leading cocoa-producing centres in Nigeria,” the commissioner said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ayodeji Alabi/Tayo Ikujuni