The cocoa revolution in Nigeria is receiving global attention. Nigeria’s cocoa production grew from 250,000 MT in 2011 to 370,000 MT by 2013 (a 48 per cent growth), and our cocoa exports earned over $900 million, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi  Adesina.

Adesina in a statement in Abuja said Hersey, a global company is investing $20 million to procure cocoa from over 20, 000 certified cocoa farmers.

On rice production, the minister said with additional 4.3 million MT, Nigeria is on course to be self sufficient in 2015.

Adesina said:  “We will soon launch the Cocoa Corporation of Nigeria, a privately run commodity board, which will further spur growth and investment in the cocoa sector, including cocoa investment funds to boost local processing and value addition.”

Adesina also said Dansa Foods was committing $35 million to establish tomato processing plants in the country.

According to him, the Federal Government is providing nine million high yielding seedlings to small holder farmers and plantation estates in the country to improve oil palm production.

He urged farmers to take advantage of the recapitalization effort of government in ensuring that Nigeria retains its advantage in oil palm production.

“Nigeria is the second largest producer of citrus in the world, the largest producer of pineapples, mangoes, and tomatoes in Africa. But we import orange juice and concentrates from South Africa and tomato paste from Latin America and China. That is now changing.

“A number of private investors now invest in horticulture. Teragro, a local private firm, has established a $ 6 million plant to process oranges into concentrate. Dansa Foods, another local private firm, is investing $35 million in the establishment of a tomato processing plant. The company is also investing $45 million to set up a 6,000-hectare pineapple plantation and processing plant.”

Source: Worldstage News