Odita Sunday 
FG Launches One Million Climate-Smart Cocoa Seedlings to Boost Exports, Jobs
By Odita Sunday
The Federal Government has launched the rollout of one million improved climate-smart hybrid cocoa seedlings in a major push to revive Nigeria’s cocoa industry, increase farmers’ incomes, expand export earnings and create jobs for young Nigerians as part of efforts to reposition the country’s agricultural sector for sustainable growth.
The development was disclosed in a statement signed by Khadijat O. Ameen (ANIPR), PRO to the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), who said the flag-off ceremony was held at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, described the initiative as a flagship programme under the National Cocoa Development Plan and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, aimed at transforming agriculture into a key driver of economic prosperity.
Kyari said the programme marks the beginning of a strategic national intervention to restore the strength of Nigeria’s cocoa industry through increased productivity, improved livelihoods for farmers, higher export earnings and enhanced global competitiveness.
The minister identified ageing plantations, declining productivity, inadequate investment, limited access to improved planting materials, climate-related challenges and weak value addition as factors responsible for the decline in cocoa production. He added that the Federal Government is implementing policies covering productivity, sustainability, financing, research, extension services, market access and value addition to reverse the trend.
According to him, the one million improved cocoa seedlings developed by CRIN are high-yielding, mature earlier and possess disease-resistant and climate-adaptive traits. He explained that the seedlings would be used to rehabilitate ageing plantations and establish new commercial cocoa farms nationwide.
Kyari further disclosed that the programme incorporates farm mapping and traceability systems to ensure compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), while the National Cocoa Management Committee and the National Task Force on EUDR are working with stakeholders to strengthen market access and secure premium prices for Nigerian cocoa.
He called for stronger collaboration among the Federal and State Governments, research institutions, financial institutions, development partners, processors, exporters and private investors, while commending CRIN, development partners, state governments, private sector organisations and farmer associations for their support.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, described cocoa as one of Nigeria’s most strategic agricultural commodities, noting that the successful production of one million improved cocoa seedlings under the Federal Government’s Public-Private Partnership framework demonstrates the strength of collaboration among government, research institutions, development partners, the private sector and farming communities.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Adamu Abubakar Dabban, described the rollout as a landmark national investment in the future of Nigeria’s cocoa industry. He reaffirmed ARCN’s commitment to supporting climate-smart agricultural innovations and ensuring that research outputs move beyond laboratories to improve farmers’ productivity and livelihoods.
Representing the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, the Ajiroba of Ibadan, Prof. Soji Adejumo, pledged the continued support of Ibadan communities for the agricultural policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying they are aimed at improving farmers’ livelihoods and achieving food sovereignty.
The event featured the distribution of improved climate-smart cocoa seedlings to farmers from the 14 cocoa-producing states across Nigeria.
About the Author
