Nigeria, three African nations deepen alliance to boost cocoa value addition

By Progress Godfrey The Federal Government, cocoa-producing states and three other African countries have agreed to deepen cooperation to boost cocoa processing, improve farmers’ earnings and retain more value from the global chocolate industry within Africa.

Speaking at the Cocoa Value Addition Summit in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, announced that Nigeria would implement a Cocoa Value Addition Accord involving the Federal Government, governors of cocoa-producing states, farmers’ associations, industry groups, research institutions and the Bank of Industry (BOI).” Enoh added: “The Accord will support cocoa processing investments, establish a national traceability system, create dedicated financing windows for processors through the Bank of Industry, and ensure that more value is retained in Africa by processing and branding cocoa products locally instead of exporting raw beans.