Oyo Matters
CRIN In–House Review: Experts Proffer Solutions To Boosting Cocoa Production In Nigeria
The Vice Chancellor of Taraba State University, Professor Sunday Bako has called on the Federal Government to adequately fund agricultural research institutions so as to boost Nigeria’s cocoa production, while saying that farmers should be encouraged to venture into other cash crops production.
The Vice Chancellor disclosed this during the 2025 In-House Review of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) held at CRIN headquarters, Idi- Ayunre Ibadan, Oyo State recently.
Prof. Bako stated that Nigeria has the capacity to compete with other cocoa producing countries in the world, but that lack of funds remain the bane of producing sufficient cocoa in the country.
“We have the manpower but lack of adequate funding remains the bane of producing world class cocoa in the country,” he said.
He further disclosed that “now that the prices of cocoa per tonnes has increased globally, more farmers should be encouraged through adequate funding.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Director of CRIN, Dr. Patrick Olusanmi Adebola, while commending the farmers for their roles in allowing their research to be tested and trusted, urged young farmers and researchers to learn from their senior colleagues.
He also attributed the institutes inability to carry out more meaningful research to paucity of funds and also called on the Federal Government to ensure that adequate funding is provided for research purposes as the only way to boost the Nations cash crops production especially cocoa.
“We can not be doing research in isolation without the farmers and we need your contributions as we move on in our research works ” He stated .
While delivering his keynote address at the event with the theme: Advances In Varietal Development Of Cocoa, Kola, Cashew, Coffee And Tea For Sustainable Economic Growth,” the first keynote speaker, the President of Cocoa Farmers Association in the Nigeria, Comrade Adeola Adegoke, also called on Nigerians to embrace farming, especially the production of cash crops.
He disclosed that CRIN has already laid the foundation with innovations in pest-resistant hybrids, bio-fertilisers from cocoa pod husk and neem, micro-propagation techniques, and farmer-participatory composting models.
“Integrating these efforts with digital technologies for data management, traceability, and transparency will be key.
“Blockchain and digital platforms can eliminate middlemen, reduce losses, combat corruption, and ensure fair prices for farmers.
“The development of robust databases through genetic fingerprinting, hybrid evaluation, and regional field trials further enhances our capacity to scale effectively. With accurate data, we can not only meet export quality standards but also tap into emerging opportunities such as carbon markets,” he said.
Comrade Adegoke also affirmed that there is growing interest in developing carbon credit projects within cocoa-producing communities.
“These projects can generate new revenue streams for farmers and stakeholders, but they come with critical responsibilities: implementation of sustainable land use from day one, and meticulous reporting, monitoring, and verification to meet global carbon standards,” he said.
The second keynote speaker, Nanman Blessing Tangtu, the visionary leader of Lingzin Global, who spoke on the ” Power of Creation,” urged Nigerian youths to be creators of jobs and not job seekers as the only way to make Nigeria at par with other developed countries of the world.
She disclosed that the institute’s purpose is to raise more creators across
Nigeria to make impact and create jobs.
“This is the time Nigerian youths should beging to think about creating jobs and not to be job seekers,” she said.
She stated that the goal is to shift the mindset of Nigerians towards
creation of jobs and that the youths should think of starting small and growing big.
Farmers, researchers and friends of the institute attended the high octane event.
—Kunle Bakare.
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