Cocoa farmers in the country have been advised to avoid anything that would make cocoa, generally known as a food and cash crop, command low price in the international market.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive, Association of Nigeria Co-operative Exporters Ltd. (ANCE), Ibadan, Oyo State, Pastor Samuel Olanipekun Awe, gave this words of advice in an interview with Tribune Agriculture.

Pastor Awe, while speaking on while Nigeria’s cocoa seedling were not as good as cocoa seeds from Ghana, Cote-d’Ivoire, and other African countries in the international market explained that some cocoa farmers in Nigeria still dried the seeds artificially, a processing method which he described as not only bad, but also against the acceptable standard in the international market.

“Äs we make efforts to re-launch the image of Nigeria in the international market for cocoa production, I will advise some of our farmers who are still in the habit of drying cocoa seeds artificially without subjecting the seeds to sun-drying, which is the acceptable method, to change from this old, outdated method so that their produce will not be rejected at the international market or command little attention in terms of selling.

Not only that, cocoa farmers should also be aware of the fact that any cocoa seeds not subjected to sun-drying will not have good, attractive aroma expected of it and may not be bought or accepted in local market.”

Pastor Awe who is also a cocoa farmer stated that he need to emphasise on this instruction of not drying cocoa seeds artificially because such a practice would cast a negative image for the country among the comity of nations.

Commenting on the statements credited to some experts that the crude oil of the country may soon dry up, the director of ANCE said since some experts had foretold it, it is better we quickly revamp the cocoa industry of the country and give necessary attention to the sector as a viable alternative source of income or external revenue for the country.

Said he, “thank God the present government has mandated the minister of agriculture to put a serious attention on the Cocoa Rebirth Programme which President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime started therefore, I want President Goodluck Jonathan to make sure that cocoa actually regain its lost glory,” he emphasised.