The Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) organized a day training for cocoa farmers, extension officers and sustainability officers of both government and non-governmental organizations with the theme: Harvest and Post-harvest Practices Affecting Cocoa Flavour Quality. The training was facilitated by the Flavour Quality Laboratory (FQL) Team of CRIN and was attended by sixty cocoa farmers and stakeholders across major cocoa producing States in Nigeria (Ondo, Cross River, Osun, Ekiti, Edo and Ogun States). The training took place on 22nd September, 2022 at Akure.
In his opening speech, the ED CRIN, Dr. Patrick Adebola, represented by the Director and Head of Training Department, Dr. Sunday Agbeniyi, lamented on the falling standard in the quality of cocoa beans produced by Nigerian farmers, leading to poor pricing and adverse effect on the nation’s foreign exchange. He opined that this training workshop will help the farmers to improve the quality of their produce and get better income from their sales.
The Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Agribusiness, Mr. Akin Olotu, who is also the Chairman of Cocoa Revolution Project in the State, appreciated CRIN for performing well in the area of research. He promised that Ondo State Government would continue to consolidate the effort of CRIN at ensuring that cocoa boost the economy of the country.
From the CRIN FQL team, Dr. O.O. Adeigbe showcased the activities of Cocoa Flavour Quality Laboratory and its benefits to Nigeria cocoa industry. Dr. Festus Olasupo took the cocoa farmers, extension officers, processors and sustainability officers from private organizations like Johnvents, Tulip, Olakoko, Agro-traders, among others, through the global best practices on cocoa harvest, processing, fermentation, drying and storage that will enable the production of fine flavour cocoa beans. In addition to the training on best practices, participants were also allowed to practice pure cocoa chocolate tasting for flavour testing of the produce coordinated by Mr. Tomiwa Balogun and Mrs. Nike Adeniran-Olalekan.
The National President of Cocoa Farmer Association of Nigeria (CFAN), Mr. Adeola Adegoke, who was in attendance described the training as a strategy to improve on the living income of cocoa farmers in Nigeria. He appreciated CRIN for initiating such training for cocoa farmers in the country. Certificate of attendance were presented to the participants at the end of the training workshop.
