Chinazum Opara and Byron Osuji
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has launched an initiative to enhance cocoa production for export in Abia State. The partnership was unveiled through a one-day workshop designed to strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.
The workshop which was held in Abia State focused on sensitizing and building the capacity of cocoa farmers and stakeholders across the cocoa value chain, with participants trained on the adoption of optimum agricultural practices to increase cocoa yield and quality while avoiding banned pesticides known to contain harmful heavy metals.
The Abia State Coordinator for RMRDC, Dr. Mrs. Oji-Nnorom C.G, highlighted cocoa’s essential value to Nigeria’s economy. She emphasized its potential to generate foreign exchange, create wealth, and urged stakeholders to prioritize value addition through processing cocoa into finished products like cocoa powder, butter, and liquor to maximize export returns.
The workshop also featured expert led technical sessions, Mr. Morris A. Udo of NEPC, who outlined essential export documentation and certification procedures, warning against rejection of non-compliant products, while Dr. Olaniyi O. Olayinka from the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Umuahia Sub-Station, delivered in-depth guidance on cocoa farm management, pest control, and post-harvest processing techniques.
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This partnership reinforces the government’s commitment to empowering local farmers and positioning Nigeria as a major player in the global cocoa market by improving the value chain and product quality.
