The National President of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria, Comrade Adeola Adegoke, has written an open letter to the European Union Commission, urging a postponement of the implementation date for the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The regulation is set to take effect on December 30, 2024, but the farmers are concerned that the current timeline will have devastating effects on their livelihoods.
Nigeria’s Cocoa Industry
According to Adegoke, the Nigerian cocoa industry is valued at $770 million and employs millions of people. He warned that if urgent steps are not taken to address issues such as deforestation and traceability, the industry could be at risk. The farmers are calling for a one-year extension to December 2025 to enable better preparation and compliance with the EUDR.
The EUDR is a regulation that prohibits products from entering the EU market unless they are legally produced and deforestation-free. It applies to several commodities, including cocoa, wood, palm oil, soy, coffee, rubber, and cattle. The regulation entered into force on June 29, 2023, and gives companies 18 months to prepare for its implementation.
The cocoa farmers have been working towards compliance with best practices, including ecosystem protection and training for sustainable farming practices. They have also organized workshops and conferences to address issues affecting the industry, such as inadequate local processing and value addition.
However, the farmers argue that many smallholder farmers lack adequate information on the EUDR and will be negatively impacted if the current deadline is not extended. They believe that compliance with the regulation could push many farmers into poverty if they are not given sufficient time to prepare.
Nigeria is one of the world’s major cocoa-producing countries, accounting for 6.5% of global production and 29% of total agricultural exports in 2023. The country’s cocoa industry is valued at N1.24 trillion, with an estimated value of N356.16 billion.
The farmers are urging the EU Commission to reconsider the implementation date to avoid disrupting the livelihoods of thousands of people dependent on the industry.
Join our Channel...