Economic Diversification: Cocoa generate more revenue than oil … CRS to over Cote d’ Ivoire in cocoa production

Acting Chairman, Cross River State Cocoa Board, Dr. Oscar Ofuka has said that cocoa can generate more revenue than oil.
Addressing Journalists shortly after receiving a Leadership award at the ‘Great Legend in Africa Gold Award’, organised by Elation Magazine in Abuja, Ofuka said that his desire is to see Nigeria launch a revolution that will bring her to limelight in the agricultural sector.

Dr. Oscar Ofuka, Acting Chairman, Cross River State Cocoa Board.

Dr. Ofuka also disclosed that Cross River State would overtake Cote d’ Ivoire in cocoa production if incentives were provided for cocoa farmers.
He also urged the Federal Government to look in the direction of cocoa in order to maximize it’s potentials in the area of economic diversification.

According to him, Nigeria had been dependent on agriculture before oil was discovered but when oil was discovered agriculture was neglected.
He said Nigeria should look into cocoa production, stating that agriculture without industry is unsustainable.
He further said that the Governor of Cross River State, Governor Benedict Ayade has done well in this direction of cocoa production and processing in the State.
“Now oil is drying up in the country, Cross State government has launched industrial revolution in agricultural sector.

“Cross River State is taking the lead in Nigeria, if Cote d’ Ivoire which is very small not up to the size of the State can be adjudged as the world’s largest producer of cocoa, CRS has the land for cocoa production and we are sure of taking over from Cote d’Ivoire in no distant time”, he stated.
He said that with the state of infrastructure across the nation, which is not sufficient to meet the needs of the people, this is the time to look inward and embrace agriculture especially in cocoa production.