Cocoa is an important agricultural produce cultivated in different parts of the world. The plant is primarily cultivated for the production of chocolates. Before the oil boom of the late 70s and 80s, Nigeria used to be the world’s second-largest exporter of cocoa and got huge revenue from it then.
Today, Nigeria is still a producer of cocoa and the fourth largest exporter in the world. Cocoa is cultivated in different parts of the country and while the plant is largely produced in some parts of Nigeria, it is produced on a low scale in other parts.
But which part of the country is cocoa largely produced in? In this article, we will majorly discuss the part of Nigeria which largely produce cocoa.
Cocoa is Largely Produced in Which Part of Nigeria?
Ondo state, located in the southwest sub-region of Nigeria, is the largest producer of cocoa. Many parts of the state are known to largely produce cocoa.
With an estimated output capacity of 77,000 metric tons per annum, Ondo state stands as the largest producer of cocoa in Nigeria. The state is located in the southwest region of Nigeria – which stands as the major cocoa-producing region. There’s a skyscraper called “Cocoa House” in the southwest region, precisely Ibadan, which the region built from the proceeds of cocoa exports.
The location of Ondo State within the rainforest agro-ecological zone very much benefits agricultural activities in the state. Ondo State is agriculturally-inclined and this contributes to more than 70% of the state’s gross domestic products.
Not every part of Ondo State produce cocoa in commercial quantities. The parts of the state that produce cocoa in commercial quantities include Owo, Idanre, Akure South, Odigbo, and Ondo West. Small-scale cocoa farmers, from the aforementioned areas, are the major facilitators of cocoa production in the state of which men are actively engaged in the process.
The second biggest producer of cocoa after Ondo State is Cross Rivers State. Some of the other top cocoa-producing states are Oyo, Osun, Akwa-Ibom, Ogun, Ekiti, and Delta. The minor producers of cocoa in Nigeria are Kogi State and Edo State.
Does eastern Nigeria grow cocoa?
Eastern Nigeria does not grow cocoa, and even if any of the states grow cocoa it will be in small quantities. The major cocoa farms in Nigeria are located in Ondo State, Cross Rivers State, Oyo State, Osun State, Akwa-Ibom State, Ogun State, Ekiti State, and Delta State.
Where can I get cocoa in Nigeria?
You can get cocoa from cocoa-producing states in Nigeria. The major cocoa-producing states in Nigeria are Ondo, Cross Rivers, Oyo, Osun, Akwa-Ibom, Ogun, Ekiti, and Delta. You can also get cocoa from minor cocoa-producing states like Kogi, Edo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Benue.
Where are most of the cocoa farms in West Africa?
Most of the cocoa farms in West Africa are located in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana – with most on family plots or smallholder farms. These two West African countries account for 60% of the world’s cocoa production.
Where does cocoa come from?
The cacao tree (Theobroma cacao) is a tropical plant native to the equatorial regions of the Americas. This cacao tree produces cocoa.
How is chocolate made from cocoa?
When cocoas become ripe, it’s harvested from the tree. After it has been harvested, the cocoas are cut open to take out the beans. The cocoa beans are then processed to obtain a fluid paste or liquor, and it is from this that cocoa powder and chocolate are made.
Conclusion
Ondo State produce the largest amount of cocoa in Nigeria with an estimated production capacity of 77,000 metric tons per annum. The state is located in the south west of Nigeria and the parts of the state that produce cocoa in commercial quantities include Owo, Idanre, Akure South, Odigbo, and Ondo West. Ondo State is agriculturally-inclined and this contributes to more than 70% of the state’s gross domestic products.