Cocoa production in Nigeria facts for kids
Cocoa is a very important crop for Nigeria! It's the country's main agricultural export. Nigeria is one of the world's top producers of cocoa, ranking fourth globally. It's also the third largest exporter, sending cocoa to many countries. In the 1950s and 1960s, cocoa brought a lot of money into Nigeria. By 1970, Nigeria was the second biggest cocoa producer in the world. However, when Nigeria started focusing more on oil in the 1970s and 1980s, its cocoa production decreased. Even so, cocoa farming remains a key part of Nigeria's agriculture.
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A Brief History of Cocoa in Nigeria
The very first cocoa farms in Nigeria were set up in places like Bonny and Calabar in the 1870s. But these areas weren't quite right for growing cocoa.
Early Farms and Spread
In 1880, a successful cocoa farm was started in Lagos. Soon after, more farms appeared in Agege and Ota. Information about how to grow cocoa spread from these farms to the Yoruba areas. This helped cocoa farming grow quickly in Western Nigeria.
Farmers in Ibadan and Egba land began trying to plant cocoa in their forests around 1890. Those in Ilesha started a few years later, around 1896. Cocoa farming then spread to other towns. These included Okeigbo and Ondo Town in Ondo State. It also reached Ife and Gbongan in Osun State, and areas in Ekiti land.
Types of Cocoa Plants
Before 1950, two main types of cocoa plants were grown in Nigeria.
- The most common type was called Amelonado cacao. It came from the upper Amazon River Basin in Brazil. Amelonado pods are green when they are growing, but they turn yellow when they are ripe.
- The second type was a mix of different strains from Trinidad. This Trinidad variety has red pods.
Growing and Selling Cocoa
Cocoa trees need specific conditions to grow well. They thrive in areas close to the equator.
Where Cocoa Grows Best
Cocoa trees grow best in regions that are not more than 20 degrees north or south of the equator. They need warm temperatures and plenty of rainfall spread throughout the year.
In Nigeria, cocoa trees are grown from small plants called seedlings. These seedlings are first raised in special nurseries. Once the seedlings are about 3 centimeters tall, they are carefully moved. Farmers plant them about 3 to 4 meters apart in the fields.
How Cocoa is Farmed and Sold
Many small-scale farmers grow cocoa in Nigeria. They usually have farms that are about 2 hectares in size. However, the export of cocoa is mostly handled by a few larger companies.
In the past, the Nigerian government controlled all cocoa sales. This was done through special "marketing boards." In the 1980s, international groups like the World Bank suggested that Nigeria change this system. They believed the marketing boards were not working well.
So, in 1986, Nigeria stopped using the marketing boards. This meant that cocoa marketing and trade became more open. However, this change did not solve all the problems. Challenges still include:
- Old cocoa trees and farms.
- Low amounts of cocoa produced per tree.
- Unpredictable production levels.
- Plant diseases and pests.
- Not enough modern farming equipment.
Today, farmers usually sell their cocoa indirectly. They might sell it through a cooperative group. Or they sell it to a licensed buying agent. These agents then sell the cocoa to the companies that export it.
Major Cocoa Producing States
Several Nigerian states are important for cocoa production. These include:
