NAN-AE-8
Cocoa
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusu, says African leaders must fight the injustice in the determination of the price of cocoa by western countries.
Ogunwusi gave the advice on Tuesday during the first Regional Cocoa Symposium organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the symposium was “ Next Generation of Cocoa Research for West and Central Africa.’’
According to the monarch , Africa contributes 70 per cent of cocoa for global consumption while the price is being determined by western countries.
“We should bridge the gap of disparity and work together as a global village to correct this.
“African countries can team up together and decide they do not want to sell cocoa until they are being carried along in determining its price.
“ Farmers must be carried along because without them there cannot be a price to fix.
“Farmers work round the clock nurturing cocoa for the entire world to utilise the product of their sweat and should be able to make enough gain when Africa controls the price,’’ he said.
In his contribution, Dr Olayiwola Olubamiwa, Acting Executive Director, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN),Ibadan, said cocoa consumption had attained an enormous peak in the world.
Olubamiwa said that there were fears that cocoa supply would not be sufficient to meet demand in the near future.
“ We have to come up with the strategies that will ensure sustainable cocoa production for the benefit of all and sundry,’’ he said.
Olubamiwa said that there was need to review policies and develop new strategies to address the challenges faced by the cocoa industry and research institutes involved in cocoa production.
Dr Anna Muyiwa, President of African Cocoa Breeders Working Group ( ACBWG), said efforts had been made on cocoa germ plasm conservation and utilisation across the region.
Muyiwa said that this was intended to improve key phenotypic traits of importance and control in diseases affecting cocoa.
“ I am confident that the deliberations to be held during this symposium will lead to important technical conclusions needed in going forward on the next generation research needed for cocoa sustainability in the region,’’ she said.
In his contribution, Dr Kenton Dashiell, Deputy Director General, Partnership for Delivery, IITA, said that the aim of the symposium was to deliberate on ways to improve cocoa production and address its challenges.
Dashiell said that IITA would not relent on its role in conducting research to improve the production of cocoa and other crops in Nigeria, Africa and the world in general.
“High quality materials with new genotype and improved cropping system that can increase yield in quality of cocoa and improve disease control would be given priority,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the symposium was attended by representatives of the World Cocoa Foundation, Africa Development Bank,OLAM, MARS, cocoa farmers and captains of industries. (NAN)
SYS/GOM/OJO
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(Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Mufutau Ojo)