Everyone loves chocolates,but you might be surprised that
most Nigerians don't know that chocolates are made from cocoa.
If
your one of those people that want to start your own cocoa farm or your
just curious and want to know about cocoa farming business without
boring yourself, then you should go
ahead and check out some of the quick facts about cocoa farming in Nigeria.
This
post contains quick facts such as challenges of cocoa production,how to
start a cocoa plantation,history of cocoa,largest cocoa producing
states in Nigeria etc.
Cocoa Farming & Production In Nigeria: 50 Quick Facts
1.
West Africa is ranked as one of the largest cocoa producing
countries,Nigeria is also ranked as the 4th largest global producer of
cocoa.
2.
Nigeria was once one of the largest exporter and producer of cocoa
which is a major cash crop before the oil boom which caused a decrease
in number of production of the cash crop.
3. Cocoa is one of the fastest selling agricultural products in the international market and the local market.
4.
In other to start up your cocoa farm you will need a large
farm,probably a few of hectares of land,you should also note that
setting up a cocoa farm is capital intensive,you can start off by
dealing on fresh cocoa seeds,you can buy and sell it to farmers at a
much higher price.
5.
Cocoa farming will require storage and drying space,this is one of the
reasons why it's capital intensive,also heavy duty sacks will be needed
for baggage.
6.
One standard 50kg bag of cocoa is sold for N55,000 in the Nigerian
market. Most often the cultivation of cocoa is done by many small scale
farmers on few hectares on land,only a few companies export cocoa.
7.
After planting of cocoa,harvesting starts at about 18 months,not only
is this business profitable,it is also requires time,effort,patience
and energy.
8.
Cocoa is the leading agricultural export of Nigeria,the country produce
more than 389,272 tonnes of cocoa per year and makes up to $1.3 billion
annually from exports.
9. Nigeria began cocoa production in the late 18th century in Bonny and Calabar.
10.
Cocoa thrives in areas that are not more than 20 degrees north or south
of the equator,that is probably the reason why the cash crop thrives in
the south south part of Nigeria,most often the cocoa tree is grown from
seedlings which are raised in nurseries,after the plant grows to a
height of 3 cm,it is then transplanted at a distance of 3 to 4 meters.
11. The major states that produce cocoa in Nigeria are Ondo, Cross River,Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ekiti, Delta, Osun and Oyo.
12.
Some of the major problems of cocoa production in Nigeria include high
cost of establishing nurseries and plantations,low level of market
information,high levels of spoilage,low quality beans Etc.
13.
Cocoa plantation is prone to diseases and will require expensive
chemicals to keep diseases such as black pod at bay,also cultivation is a
very delicate process because the plant is very sensitive and responds
to changing weather conditions.
14.
The quality of crops exported from Nigeria is considered of a lower
quality on the international market,however Nigeria’s cocoa is known in
the world market for its pleasant aroma.
In conclusion:
Cocoa
farming is very lucrative,but before venturing into the business you
should take intensive lessons and probably start off by dealing on the
seeds, after learning the ropes and saving money,you can then consider
setting up your own cocoa farm.
