By Lawal Abdullahi-Jubril
Araromi Okeodo (Osun State): The Cocoa Produce Buyers Association of Nigeria, Ife South Local Government Chapter, held its local meeting on Tuesday, November 4, at Area 5, Araromi Okeodo, Osun State.
The meeting took place at the residence of the chairman of Araromi Okeodo’s Produce Buyers, Mr. Mukaila Olawuyi, who also serves as the vice chairman of the association at the local government level.
The secretary, Mr Sikiru Abioye, presented a report on the previous meeting held at Fadaka Village, Area 5, before forwarding two key agenda items the association aims to achieve.
A major issue discussed was the growing insecurity and rising cases of cocoa theft across villages and towns within the local government area.
In response, the association announced several countermeasures designed to curb theft and promote transparency in the cocoa trade. These include:
A ban on the purchase of wet cocoa beans.
Prohibition of cocoa buying during late hours of the day.
Stopping the use of congos for measurement instead of standard kilograms.
Restriction on night-time transportation of dried or wet cocoa beans.
The association also addressed the problem of substandard cocoa beans being traded in the market.
A report from the local task force revealed the seizure of cocoa shaft purchased around several villages, allegedly to be mixed with raw cocoa beans — a practice that lowers quality and damages the reputation of local produce. Similar seizures have reportedly been made by the Osun State Task Force in various locations.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Mukaila emphasized that only Grade 1 and Grade 2 cocoa beans meet the standard required by exporters and urged all members to maintain these quality levels.
“This development will benefit the local government, the state, and the nation as a whole,” he said.
Nigeria remains one of the largest cocoa-producing countries in the world, ranking behind Ivory Coast and Ghana in West Africa, and Indonesia globally.
The association called on the local, state, and federal governments to support efforts in tackling insecurity and the trade of substandard cocoa. It also appealed for empowerment initiatives for youth, elderly citizens, produce buyers, and farmers to strengthen the agricultural sector. (flowerbudnews.ng)
