As climate change continues to reshape agriculture across Africa, the Coordinator of the Climate-Smart Agronomy Programme (Nigeria), Dr. Abiola Bashorun, has called for the repositioning of cocoa as one of Nigeria’s foremost climate adaptation cash crops, saying it holds the potential to drive agro-industrial revival through biochar, agroforestry, seed conservation and agrovoltaics.
Bashorun said rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, land degradation and declining soil fertility demand a new approach to agriculture that strengthens climate resilience while creating sustainable economic opportunities.
According to her, although cocoa has traditionally been recognised as a major export commodity, its future should extend beyond exports to supporting climate resilience, environmental restoration, renewable energy integration and agro-industrial development.
She explained that cocoa thrives naturally under partial shade, making it suitable for diversified agroforestry systems that improve soil health, conserve moisture, reduce erosion, enhance biodiversity and strengthen farmers’ resilience to climate change.
Cocoa Waste Can Drive Climate-Smart Agriculture
Bashorun described cocoa waste as one of the crop’s most underutilised assets, noting that cocoa pod husks, bean shells, pruning materials and other processing by-products can be converted into biochar.
She said biochar improves soil fertility, enhances water retention, increases nutrient availability, promotes healthier crop growth and stores stable carbon in the soil for extended periods.
According to her, converting cocoa waste into biochar will reduce agricultural waste, strengthen sustainable farming systems and create additional value across Nigeria’s cocoa value chain while supporting the country’s transition to a circular economy.
Seed Bank to Preserve Indigenous Crop Varieties
The Climate-Smart Agronomy Programme Coordinator also highlighted plans to establish a Seed Bank dedicated to conserving, multiplying, evaluating, testing and distributing indigenous and climate-resilient crop varieties.
She said the initiative aims to ensure Nigeria’s indigenous seeds remain accessible to farmers rather than being neglected or confined to storage facilities.
Bashorun explained that the proposed Climate-Smart Agronomy Directorate for Research and Development would work alongside the Seed Bank to promote biodiversity conservation, seed quality testing, climate resilience and wider access to improved planting materials.
Agroforestry to Boost Farmers’ Income
She identified multi-cropping and agroforestry as key pillars of the programme, explaining that cultivating cocoa alongside fruit trees, indigenous timber species, legumes and other compatible crops would strengthen biodiversity, improve soil fertility, enhance ecosystem resilience and diversify farmers’ sources of income.
According to her, the integrated farming system aligns with the programme’s objective of increasing agricultural productivity while protecting natural resources.
Ondo Named Pilot State for Agrovoltaics
Bashorun disclosed that Ondo State has been selected as the pilot state for the programme’s agrovoltaics initiative because of its position as one of Nigeria’s leading cocoa-producing states and its abundant solar energy potential.
She said the pilot project will evaluate carefully designed agrovoltaic systems within cocoa plantations to determine how solar energy generation can coexist with cocoa production under local conditions.
According to her, electricity generated from the project is expected to support irrigation, cocoa fermentation, drying, storage, processing, cold-chain infrastructure and the operation of proposed Environmental Sustainability Industrial Hubs.
She added that the initiative is designed to reduce energy costs, minimise post-harvest losses, increase value addition and stimulate sustainable rural industrialisation across the state.
Programme Advances in Ondo
Bashorun commended the support of Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and officials of the state’s Ministries of Agriculture and Environment for their commitment to the Climate-Smart Agronomy Programme.
She disclosed that laboratory equipment has already been delivered to the programme’s office in Akure, while preparations are underway for the establishment of the Climate-Smart Agronomy Directorate for Research and Development, the Seed Bank, laboratory facilities and field demonstration sites.
According to her, the projects are being implemented in collaboration with investment and technical partners, primarily from the United States.
Subject to the completion of operational and administrative processes, Bashorun said the programme is expected to commence activities across Ondo Central and Ondo South Senatorial Districts in October 2026.
Call for Strategic Partnerships
Looking ahead, Bashorun described the Climate-Smart Agronomy Programme as a long-term strategy for transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector through science, innovation, sustainable investment and strategic partnerships.
She said initiatives such as cocoa biochar, the Seed Bank, agroforestry, agrovoltaics and Environmental Sustainability Industrial Hubs are designed to reposition cocoa as a catalyst for climate adaptation, renewable energy integration, circular economy innovation and rural industrialisation.
Bashorun called on government institutions, development partners, research organisations, private investors, financial institutions, academia and farming communities to collaborate in building a climate-smart, resilient and globally competitive agricultural sector capable of creating jobs, strengthening food security and driving sustainable economic growth.
