The Cocoa and Plantain Farmers Association of Nigeria (CPFAN) has disclosed that arrangements have been concluded to develop three mega processing factories in three South-Western states of the country to support farming businesses and boost production.
The President of CPFAN, Ayodele Ojo, made this known in Akure, the Ondo state capital, that the three factories will be sited in Ondo, Osun, and Ogun states to produce plantain and cocoa powder, adding that each of the factories would cost N500m, making a total of N1.5b for the whole mega processing factories.
In Nigeria, especially in the south west region, cocoa has formed an important crop for farmers for decades, and a common saying in this region is that “Plantain is used to nurse cocoa up.” Therefore, more than 90% of cocoa farmers have planted plantain as a shade crop for their cocoa trees while at seedling stage.
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Ojo explained that the association is hoping to establish these mega-processing factories in all six geo-political zones, saying that a mini-version of the project has already been cited and commissioned by members of the association in Anambra State, in the south-eastern part of the country, and the factory is already up and running.
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He also noted that the association, in partnership with the department of Food and Science Technology at Obafemi Awolowo University and Federal University of Technology, Akure, is looking into how to merge cocoa and plantain into one single dietary product that is generally suitable for consumption for all ages, acceptable, and valuable for all.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, on the occasion assured that the Ministry is ready to support the association to fully harness cocoa and plantain sub sectors to boost food sufficiency, increase earnings for smallholder farmers as well as income generation.
