The inability of cocoa farmers to produce more than sixty percent of the projected cash crop production in Cross River State has been hindered by unfavourable weather, fake chemicals and black pod disease. They want government to come to their aid.
Providing an enabling environment with right policies will also ensure both direct and indirect employment to the teeming unemployed youth population in the state .
The Association of young Cocoa Farmers in Ikom made this known during a one day awareness training programme organised by a private organisation to address critical challenges in the sector.
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The farmers said inline with the International Cocoa Organisation ICCO,Nigeria needed to increase cocoa production and export per year, with a call on the government to support farmers, in the form of subsidies, aids, loans and funds.
On his part, the monitoring and Evaluation manager of the organisers Mujeeb Oniyide ,said the group will continue to work closely with local farmers on how
to improve their yields, with support funds and other working equipments across Nigeria starting from Cross River and Ondo state.
Cocoa is a household cash crop and key agricultural produce in Nigeria with Cross River being the second largest producer after Ondo state.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
