The cocoa industry in Nigeria is re-positioning to compete favourably in the world market. This is disclosed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, at the 23rd partnership forum organised by the World Cocoa Foundation in Washington, DC.
At the forum, titled “Meeting Tomorrow's Demand: Productivity, Quality, and Farmers'Livelihoods,” Dr. Adesina told the stakeholders how Nigeria, is “creating a sustainable vehicle built on a public-private partnership platform to coordinate the complete cocoa sector which will be public sector-enabled but private sector-driven with all stakeholders playing active role.”
To demonstrate the commitment of Nigeria in developing the cocoa industry, the minister disclosed the plans on rehabilitation of “200,000 hectares over the next four years via an aggressive plan developed in partnership with private sector to supply employment for skilled professionals called ‘Professional Cocoa Doctors and Grafters'over the next fi ve years who'd have the ability to deploy their skills to earn a significant living and rehabilitate at the least 200,000 hectares of cocoa farms in Nigeria.”
