Why cocoa farmers are relocating from Edo
Cocoa farmers in Edo State, once a major cocoa-producing area, are relocating to southwestern states due to several challenges. These include a lack of forest lands for expansion, limited access to modern cocoa varieties, and inadequate government support for mechanization. Gbemi Akiola, Secretary of the Cocoa Farmers Association in Edo, highlighted the plight of cocoa farmers, stressing that the state is losing its competitive edge due to land exhaustion and rising conflicts with community leaders over land ownership.
Farmers are also burdened by limited access to international markets, as government interventions have restricted direct sales to companies. Middlemen now dominate the cocoa market, forcing farmers to sell their produce at significantly lower prices than international standards. For example, cocoa sells at N13,000 per kilo locally, compared to N16,000 internationally, reducing farmers’ profits.
Akiola noted that fire outbreaks, herdsmen conflicts, and the high cost of farm inputs such as chemicals and herbicides further compound the difficulties. Many farmers, unable to sustain their operations, are moving to other regions, particularly Ife, where they hope to find better conditions for cocoa farming.
Source: Dailytrust
Expert Review for Agri-food Stakeholders:
The current exodus of cocoa farmers from Edo State highlights the critical need for a strategic overhaul of the state’s cocoa industry. Several key issues need addressing:
Land Availability: Cocoa farmers face land shortages due to deforestation and a lack of forest land allocations by the government. Providing access to fertile land, especially in regions like Udo and Okomu, could revitalize cocoa farming in the state.
Market Access: The restriction on direct sales to international buyers and the dominance of middlemen have severely impacted farmers’ profitability. Easing these restrictions and creating more transparent market channels would allow farmers to access fair prices, improving their income.
Access to New Varieties: While new cocoa varieties with better yields are available globally, Edo farmers are cut off from accessing them due to inadequate follow-up by the state government. Revamping partnerships with research institutes and global suppliers could help farmers adopt high-yield, resilient cocoa strains.
Post-Harvest and Input Support: Fire outbreaks and high input costs are additional barriers to success. Government intervention in providing affordable inputs and post-harvest management strategies, such as community processing facilities, could alleviate some of these challenges.
Recommendations for Agri-food Stakeholders:
Policy Advocacy: Stakeholders should push for policies that ensure better land access and reduce bureaucratic barriers to international markets for farmers.
Investment in Value Chains: Establishing local processing facilities and providing access to global cocoa varieties could boost productivity and income.
Private Sector Partnerships: Collaborations with private investors can fill the gaps in mechanization, input supply, and market access, ensuring more sustainable cocoa production.
