The Nigeria’s quest to maintain her place as a leading player in the global cocoa industry has received a boast with the expansion of the value chain through development of a number of nutritious edibles from cocoa bean and by-products. The consumables from cocoa and others from cashew, kola, coffee and tea were displayed during an Exhibition in Lagos by CRIN.
The ED CRIN, Dr. Patrick Adebola, in his remarks, harped on the importance of the products, saying their health benefits ranged from reducing hypertension, curing diabetes as well as serving as antidote to malaria symptoms and boosting the brain function. Dr. Adebola charged investors to take up the responsibility of mass production to further increase the volume of the nation’s agro-products for export and for local consumption thereby enhancing the economy.
He said, “The Cocoa Research Institute was established in 1964 to carry out research and development in 5 major crops and one of them is cocoa. As we all know, cocoa is one product that has good foreign exchange earning to the country. In fact, it occupies number one spot.
“The benefits of cocoa and cocoa products are enormous. Among the products is cocoa chocolate, a beverage that is made from cocoa and the health benefits cannot be overemphasised. Today, we are showcasing what the institute has done as regards the use of products of cocoa.
“We have displayed varieties of by-products from cocoa. The intention is to disseminate this to the community and to Nigerians in general to see if there are investors that will be interested in coming to take up these technologies that have been on our shelves.
“The products are up to twenty (20) ranging from cocoa powder to cocoa cream, cocoa wine, cocoa juice and others that we have displayed.
“When this happens, it will translate into increasing the economic prospect of the individuals that will take up the technologies. Apart from that, we are encouraging the local consumption of cocoa products. We should not only rely on exporting the beans to European and American markets. If we increase the local consumption, it will translate into economic benefits to all the farmers that are planting cocoa. It will also generate a lot of employment locally. When we are exporting the raw beans, we are exporting jobs. So, that is why we are out today to showcase what CRIN has done, and we are calling on would-be entrepreneurs to come and take up some of the technologies that we have produced over the years”
Speaking at the occasion, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, represented by the State Director of Agric. business, Mrs Aramide Dansalu, believed that the value addition on the affected crops would bring about increased job and wealth creation for Nigerians, in addition to addressing nutritional deficiencies among both children and adult citizens.
She also hoped that the research products, particularly those from cocoa, would go a long way in bringing the commodity to consumers while promising that she will visit the extension officers and make sure they take these products to farmers; let them know that Cocoa can be put to many uses that can bring more money to them. “We appreciate CRIN for having this seminar in Lagos and stepping down all the value added products, so that they can be taken out to the end users. We appreciate you for coming and for having Lagos State in mind; we are ready to partner with you”.
In his remarks, the Head, CRIN Extension Section, Anthony Agbongiarhuoyi, called on the government in Lagos to adopt some of the products for its school feeding programme, explaining that products from cocoa contain the needed nutrients that can boost brain power and that if used in feeding school children could enhance their ability to learn.
“We have up to 20 products, including cocoa bread, cashew wine, cocoa wine, cola wine, tea wine, coffee wine, cocoa butter cream, milk chocolate, roasted cashew with honey, and liquid soap. I will like to mention that the Federal Government gave us mandate to do research on five crops. From the five crops, these products are produced for employment generation. We have to showcase our research products to sensitise the public, create awareness about their existence and organisations, business men and women that are interested in any of these products can come and uptake it.”
The exhibition programme was graced by many dignitaries including an extensionist from the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Dr Ikeyoweto Omobogogu; Acting Director of Extension Service, Lagos Agric Development, Mrs Ebota Olushola, among others.
