VP Osinbajo Explains why EU Countries Reject Nigerian Cocoa

Alt: = "Vice President Osknbajo and Cocoa tree with fruits

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has explained the reason imminent rejection of Nigerian cocoa by the European Union beginning from 2022.

 He said it is due to the continuous use of chemicals more than the original level, and only good agronomic practices by farmers will avert the the imminent rejection by EU countries.

The Vice President stated in Abuja at the Nigerian Cocoa Summit and Awards in Abuja.

The Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria recently alleged that the EU had threatened to reject cocoa produced in Nigeria from 2022 due to a fall in the commodity’s quality.

Mr Osinbajo, represented by the Gap Lead, Eze Kingsley Uzoma, advised the farmers to institute a mechanism and extend good agronomic practices to ensure that cocoa from Nigeria meet international standards.

He warned that the residual effects of indiscriminate application of chemicals would reduce the quality of the seed and depreciate earnings in the sector as he tasked farmers to use them within the permissible standard.

The CFAN national president, Adeola Adegoke, expressed concern that cocoa, which contributed the highest foreign exchange earnings in the 1950s to 1960s, had its earnings reduced due to numerous challenges, adding that  climate change had added another factor to the existing factors that negatively affected cocoa production in Nigeria.

Read also: Top Agribusiness for Export in Nigeria: Nigeria's Agro Products with Highest Export Earnings

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Mohammad Abubakar attributed Nigeria’s loss of cocoa power in the global market and competitiveness to lack of improved seedlings, pest infestation, pesticide contamination leading to low quality of cocoa beans, among others.

Read also: Challenges Facing Agriculture in Nigeria and Possible Solutions

Mr Abubakar, represented by the director of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Karima Babangida, said the ministry was working to increase cocoa production from the present 250,000 metric tons to 714,000 metric tons.

He stated that the National Cocoa Plan (2021 to 2030) aimed to promote a sustainable cocoa economy, resurgence in production and industrialisation.

(NAN)

Read also: More Profits for Cocoa Farmers as Nestle, others Begin Recycling of Cocoa Fruit Pulps as Substitute for Sugar in Chocolate


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