From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
An agro-allied company, Loom Craft Chocolate, in collaboration with the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), yesterday, flagged off a special training on post harvest processing practices for small holder cocoa farmers in Ondo State.
Chief Executive Officer, Loom Craft Chocolate, Uzomaka Igweike, while flagging off the training at Ibuji in Ifedore Local Government Area of the state, identified poor harvest processing practice as one of the challenges that has impeded the success of Nigeria’s cocoa export at the international market.
Loom Craft Chocolate is an Abuja-based firm, which basically transforms Nigeria cocoa into chocolate bars, spread and other cocoa products.=
According to Igweike, Cocoa producers have not been able to meet the target set by the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) due to its challenges and Nigeria has been struggling to meet its target and as a result, the country loses over $1 billion per year.
Igweike said: “When you are making chocolate powder, flavour is essential, it is the biggest determinant for good flavour for chocolate bars.
“The basic process started from the fermentation and drying. We realised
most of the farmers are not giving us good cocoa. Further investigation shows they were not processed at all; the fermentation and drying were not done. Even when they do it, it is not adequate, they do not spend as much time they should, everyone is at rush to dry and sell so that they can get their revenue which is understandable.
“What we are trying to do with this training is to educate the farmers we are working with and farmers in general on the necessary and best ways of processing cocoa.
“The cocoa bean is a semi-processed raw material, it is not a primary material, because of that fermentation they do, when you put in the effort you get flavourful to command the presence in the market, they command higher prices and we, in turn, get quality bean that we need to produce excellent chocolate. We want a relationship where we invest in the farmers so that they can produce good cocoa.
“For us, it is not just about the multitude, but the value being added. We have to inform them about the tools needed, like fermentation box, in some instance,we have to provide solar-powered system, when you do the training and you do not provide tools, it may be a wasted effort.
“We need the government in providing subsidised farm inputs, subsidised cocoa seedlings, many people are interested in cocoa farming, many are passionate about it, but the things embedded are costly,” she said.
CFAN National President of Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, Adeola Adegoke, who said 50 beneficiaries were randomly selected across the two local government areas of Idanre and Ifedore of Ondo State, stressed the importance of proper processing of cocoa.
According to Adegoke, the essence of the training was to make Nigeria cocoa beyond local acceptance, ensure cocoa sustainably, and increase income and livelihood.
He said: “We are training them on good post-harvest practices that give the right flavour so that our cocoa can be a sought after at the international market.
“The programme targets 50 farmers with 25 beneficiaries from each community. Those you are seeing here in Ibuji will undergo the training for 14 days with practical from harvesting, breaking of pods, fermentation and sun-drying. I believe this training will be a game changer because a lot opportunities will come after the training.”
The CFAN president said cocoa was a major agricultural export crop and a top foreign exchange earner in the 1950s and 60s and prior to the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities in the 1970s, Nigeria was the world’s second largest producer of cocoa.
“Nigeria was second in the 60s before the advent of crude oil. But today, we are fifth with about 350,000 metric tonnes while Ivory Coast produces about two million metric tonnes and Ghana with about 800,000 metric tonnes. Then, Nigeria was adjudged the best in West Africa in terms of having the best cocoa flavour and aroma with the way our farmers followed the post-harvest practices. It showed that our farmers had very good quality practices which made many European countries come around to buy our cocoa ahead of other countries but today, the reverse has been the case,” he said.
He called on governments, at all levels, to support farmers across the country to ensure food security.
Traditional ruler, Onibuji of Ibuji community, Folagbade Ojo, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, appreciated Loom Craft Chocolate and CFAN for the training, saying it would go a long way at improving their post-harvest processing practices.
The monarch said: “This programme is going to bring a very good impact, it has come to sensitise my people on how to produce the best cocoa.”