Nigeria’s cocoa production at 300,000 tons in 2013 showed an increase of 7 percent as compared to the previous year. The Government of Nigeria (GON) under its Cocoa Transformation Action Plan (CTAP) has targeted cocoa production to increase by 40 percent to reach 500,000 tons by 2015. GON incentives at attaining production goals remain inadequate. However, increasing adherence by local cocoa farmers in achieving the “UTZ” certification is shoring up demand and prices for Nigeria’s cocoa at the international market. These factors have mostly continued to encourage Nigerian farmers to rehabilitate abandoned farms and also increase area under production. Nigeria’s suspension of the export rebate (EEG) in 2012 has discouraged local cocoa processing.
