Cocoa Farmers Reap Rewards from Soaring Prices

Cocoa farmers in the agricultural communities of Oyo State are celebrating the benefits of rising cocoa bean prices this season. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, the state capital, several cocoa farmers expressed that the 2024 farming season has been the most lucrative in their farming careers.

They reported that their earnings from cocoa farming this season have tripled compared to the previous year. This significant increase has greatly improved their living standards, enabling some farmers to undertake projects like house construction, purchase cars, and buy motorcycles, among other things.

Nurudeen Alimi, a cocoa farmer from Elede Ominigbo Village in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area (LGA), shared that he harvested over 860 kilograms of cocoa beans from his farm. He noted that the price of cocoa beans, which was between N2,800 and N4,000 per kilogram in December 2023, soared to N12,000 by mid-December 2024. 

However, he pointed out that the number of cocoa beans he harvested this season decreased due to diseases like a black pod and the cocoa swollen shoot virus. “Nonetheless, the income from selling cocoa beans this season is significantly higher than what I made in five years combined. It has allowed me to start building a four-bedroom house in Eruwa town and enjoy a better quality of life,” he stated.

Tiamiyu Afolabi, who owns a cocoa plantation at Ore farm settlement, referred to the current price surge as a blessing for cocoa farmers. Mr. Afolabi shared that he earned over N25 million from his cocoa farm this season and emphasized that the price increase has positively impacted his livelihood. “I hesitantly began cocoa and kola nut farming in 2005 after finishing secondary school because I couldn’t find a job. However, this season has changed everything for me.”

The farmers collectively expressed gratitude for the price surge, which they believe will encourage more individuals to engage in cocoa farming, potentially boosting the local economy. They hope that with continued support and favorable market conditions, the cocoa industry in Oyo State will thrive, providing sustainable livelihoods for many families in the region.