(DDM) – The Abia State Government has launched a large-scale effort to revive 1,500 hectares of cocoa plantations across the state in a bid to boost production and attract credible investors.
DDM gathered that the initiative was disclosed by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, during the Nigeria-EU Cocoa Roundtable on European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) compliance held at the State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to Agbaeze, the intervention was prompted by the failure of previous managers of the plantations to meet the state’s expectations and protect its economic interests.
He explained that the agreements previously signed with certain individuals were revoked after it became clear that the terms were “heavily lopsided” against the state and the people of Abia.
“Before we came on board, most of these plantations were given to individuals who were not truly representing the interests of Abia State,” Agbaeze stated.
“When we met with them, it was clear they were not abiding by the terms of the agreement or protecting the state’s interest. The logical step was to revoke those agreements and open the door to genuine investors.”
The Commissioner confirmed that several credible investors had already submitted proposals, which the state was processing.
He added that the new partnerships would be governed by a Memorandum of Understanding designed to reflect best global industry practices.
On the issue of environmental compliance, Agbaeze stressed that Abia State was committed to meeting the European Union Deforestation Regulation requirements.
The EUDR, which takes effect in December 2020, prohibits the import of cocoa and other commodities linked to deforestation.
To ensure compliance, the Abia government has set up a state-level Taskforce on EUDR Compliance, mirroring similar efforts at the federal level.
Agbaeze also revealed that the government is driving a shift towards digital agriculture through the Abia State Dynamic Data System.
The platform has already registered over 80,000 farmers across the state, mapping their farms and capturing the exact coordinates of each location.
“With this system, we can easily identify who is farming where, and target any government intervention accurately,” Agbaeze explained.
He stressed that registration is tied strictly to actual farm ownership, with officials conducting community-by-community verification to ensure credibility.
The Commissioner said the system would make it easier to ramp up productivity, deliver resources directly to farmers, and boost the cocoa sector’s output.
This revival effort comes as Nigeria, once the world’s second-largest cocoa exporter, seeks to regain its global market share amid rising international demand.