The Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP)
STCP Working Paper Series
Issue 11
Cocoa seed multiplication: an assessment of seed gardens in
Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria
(Version: August 2010)
By:
Richard Asare1, Victor Afari-Sefa2, Isaac Gyamfi2, Chris Okafor2 and Jonas Mva Mva2
1 Forest and Landscapes Denmark and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) -
Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP), Regional Office- P.O. Box 135 Accra, Ghana. Email:
qra@life.ku.dk; r.asare@cgiar.org
2 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Email: v.afari-sefa@cgiar.org;
i.gyamfi@cgiar.org; c.okafor@cgiar.org; j.mva@cgiar.org
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
i
The Sustainable Tree Crops Program (STCP) is a joint public-private research for development partnership that
aims to promote the sustainable development of the small holder tree crop sector in West and Central Africa.
Research is focused on the introduction of production, marketing, institutional and policy innovations to achieve
growth in rural income among tree crops farmers in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. For details
on the program, please consult the STCP website .
The core STCP Platform, which is managed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), has been
supported financially by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Cocoa
Foundation (WCF) and the global cocoa industry. Additional support for this research was provided by Forest and
Landscapes Denmark.
The authors wish to express appreciation to the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board (COCOBOD)’s seed production
unit, staff of the Tree Crop Units in Ondo and Osun State Ministries of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Nigeria
for their co-operation and provision of data for this study. Appreciation is also expressed to the staff of the Cocoa
Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) sub stations.
A special appreciation also goes to the coordinator of the cocoa and coffee seed project (CCSP) in the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development and Institut de Rescherche Agronomique pour le Développement, all of
Cameroon.
Layout by Cynthia Prah
About the STCP Working Paper Series:
STCP Working Papers contain preliminary material and research results that are circulated in order to stimulate
discussion and critical comment. Most Working Papers will eventually be published in a full peer review format.
Comments on this or any other working paper are welcome and may be sent to the authors via the following e‐
mail address: STCP‐WCA@cgiar.org
All working papers are available for download from the STCP website.
Sustainable Tree Crops Program
Regional Office for West and Central Africa
IITA‐Ghana, Accra
P.M.B L 56, Legon, Ghana
Correct Citation:
R. Asare, V. Afari‐Sefa, I. Gyamfi, C. Okafor, J. Mva Mva. 2010. Cocoa seed multiplication: an assessment
of seed gardens in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria. STCP Working Paper Series 11 (Version August 2010).
Sustainable Tree Crops Program, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Accra, Ghana.
Copyright © 2010 IITA
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) holds the copyright to its publications but encourages
duplication of these materials for noncommercial purposes. Proper citation is requested and prohibits modification
of these materials. Permission to make digital or hard copies of part or all of this work for personal or classroom use
is hereby granted without fee and without a formal request provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit
or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and full citation on the first page. To copy otherwise, to
republish, to post on servers, or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission. Request permission to
publish by completing this online form
ii
Preface
This study of cocoa seed gardens in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria was commissioned by
IITA/STCP. The study aims at assessing the production capacities of the cocoa seed gardens to
produce sufficient improved seeds that will help farmers improve their yield, output and income.
The need for an improvement in the performance of the crop has become necessary in view of
ageing of cocoa farms, poor average yield of cocoa trees across the sub region and the determined
efforts of the respective governments to increase production through rehabilitation of all cocoa
farms and the establishment of new ones.
The study was carried out in all existing seed gardens in the respective countries. The
investigations have been in-depth, the study provided basic information on where cocoa seed
gardens are located, when they were established and the different varieties planted. It also
discussed pod production methods and gave the statistics of output and distribution by different
seed gardens in the various countries. The critical challenges posed by labour and other inputs
were highlighted, while the existing opportunities were equally discussed. The input and
infrastructural requirements for maintaining 1 ha seed garden in the various countries were
indicated. This study is particularly valuable in providing most basic information required for
taking decisions on the way forward for successful and profitable farming operations by cocoa
farmers in the respective countries.
iii
Executive summary
In recent years, the viability of cocoa seed gardens and commercial cocoa farms has been of
much concern to policy makers, farmers, and other stakeholders in the cocoa industry. This is as
a result of low yield of cocoa trees, high maintenance costs of cocoa farms and ageing of some
trees. To address the situation, the Sustainable Tree Crop Program (STCP) managed by the
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) commissioned this study to assess the
production capacity of all seed gardens across West and Central Africa. This report discusses the
results obtained from the study.
Study approach
The assessment was conducted in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria. Relevant information was
gathered with the help of structured questionnaire, systematic observations and informal
interactions with officers and other workers of the seed gardens across the various countries. The
result of the analysis formed the basis of the discussions.
Findings
Seed Garden Location, Year Established, Area and Varieties Planted
Cameroon
There are only 3 state own cocoa seed gardens in the country. These are located in Nkoemvone
(103 ha), Mengang (34.6 ha) and Barombi Kang (12 ha). Apart from the garden in Nkoemvone,
which was established in 1960 the rest were established in 1981. There are about 17 different
clones found across the 3 seed gardens.
Ghana
There are 26 state own seed gardens located in different agro-ecological zones across 6 cocoa
growing regions in Ghana. Six seed gardens are located in the Ashanti region (106.5 ha)
established between 1963 to 1980; 3 seed gardens are located in the Brong-Ahafo region (77.6
ha) established between 1953 to 1982; 2 seed gardens in Central region (22.4 ha) established
between 163 to 1974; 8 seed gardens in the Eastern region (201.43 ha) establsihed between 1957
to 1982; 1 seed garden in the Volta region (11 ha) established in 1974, and 3 in the Western
region (37 ha) established between 1954 to 1972. In all 16 different varieties of cocoa including
clonal materials were found across the seed gardens.
Nigeria
Cocoa seed gardens in Nigeria are located in Ondo, Osun, Oyo States in the South-west zone; in
Edo and Cross River State in the South-south zone and; in Abia State in the South-east zone.
There are seven (7) cocoa seed gardens in Ondo State, out of which 5 belonged to the State and
two to CRIN. These gardens were established between 1956 and 1978, and occupy a total
nominal area of 106.46 ha. In Osun State, there are three (3) seed gardens, established between
1961 and 1979 and occupy a total of 16.2 ha. In Oyo State, there are five (5) seed gardens, four
of which were established in 1964. The fifth plot containing improved clones was established in
iv
1999. The 5 plots occupy a total area of 229.98 ha. The 2 seed gardens in Edo (31.5 ha
established in 1967) and Cross River (4.4 ha established in 1975) States were established by
CRIN as experimental plots and planted with improved planting materials. They were not
established as seed gardens but nevertheless they have clonal materials which are made available
to farmers. There is only one seed garden in the South-East Zone, which was established
between 1971 and 1986, and occupies an area of 28.5 ha. There are 9 different cocoa varieties
planted across the various seed gardens.
Cocoa pod production method, output and distribution
All the seed gardens in the respective countries use either the open or hand pollination method
for hybrid pod production. The total annual production of pods for the 2008/2009 production
season in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria are 177,767, 4,841,428 and 471,866 respectively.
However, there was no systematic procedure for estimating farmer pod demand and quantity
supplied in any of the seed gardens across the 3 countries.
Seed garden challenges and opportunities
The major challenges facing all the seed gardens include inadequate and untimely release of
funds from government, old age of trees, depleted soils, inadequate number and poor condition
of equipment and limited infrastructure. Despite these challenges, the seed gardens offer a lot of
opportunities for the growth and development of the cocoa industry through the provision of high
quality planting materials.
Costs of maintaining 1 ha seed garden in the respective countries
All the seed gardens lack adequate skilled and unskilled labour in addition to equipment and
agrochemicals. Effort was made to estimate the labour, material and infrastructural costs to
maintain 1 ha seed garden in the respective countries. This amounted to CFA 4,153,050 for
Cameroon, GHC 11,041 for Ghana and NA 937,667 for Nigeria.
Conclusions and recommendations
In an effort to document the state of pod production in the sub-region a seed garden capacity
assessment study was conducted across 3 countries namely Cameroon, Ghana, and Nigeria.
Results indicate that none of the countries had a specific protocol and/or mechanism for
estimating cocoa pod demand by farmers. As a result there is a deficit in production in all the
countries. With the current efforts by the resepcitive governement to increase cocoa production,
it will be necessary for the seed gardens to improve upon production to enhance rehabilitation of
old cocoa farms and also establish new ones. In order to achieve such objectives, it is
recommended that the following should be considered:
1. Government should provide funds for research into modern technologies in seed
multiplication via somatic embryogenesis, grafting and budding and to also train more
personnel in these technologies
2. There should be an aggressive rehabilitation regime in all the seed gardens to replace old
cocoa trees with new improved planting materials. These new planting materials should
be planted in a progressive expansion program taking advantege of the modest land
availability that exist in the respective countries
v
3. There should be the establishment of private seed gardens with support from
governments to augment the existing state own seed gardens
4. Novel and modern equipment should be used in the production process coupled with
irrigation schemes to avoid over reliance on rainfall
5. A systematic procedure for estimating annual pod demand and supply should be
promoted in all countries. This will help the seed gardens to make adequate planning of
their planting material production activities
6. Public-private-patnership investment options in planting material multiplication and
distribution should be considered.
Key Words: Seed gardens; Seed multiplication; Clonal varieties
vi
Acronyms
CBO Community Based Organization
CCSP Coffee and Cocoa Seed Project
CGIAR Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
COCOBOD Cocoa Marketing Board of Ghana
CRIG Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana
CRIN Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria
CSSVD Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease
FODECC Fund for Cocoa and Coffee Development
IITA International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
IRAD Institut de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement
MINADER Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
MIDENO Mission de Développement du Nord Ouest
NGO Non‐Governmental Organization
NWCA North West Cooperatives Association
R4D Research for Development
SODECOA Société de Développement du Cocoa
SOWEFCU South West Farmers Cooperative Union
SPU Seed Production Unit
STCP Sustainable Tree Crops Program
UCAL Union des Coopératives du Littoral
UCCAO Union Central des Coopératives Agricoles de l’Ouest
vii
List of Tables
Table 1: State of seed gardens in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria ................................................................................. 4
Table 2: Annual production of hybrid pods in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria .............................................................. 4
Table 3: Seed garden location, year established, area and varieties planted ............................................................... 6
Table 4: Clones in Nkoemvone by year of establishment .............................................................................................. 6
Table 5: Clones in Mengang by year planted ................................................................................................................. 7
Table 6: Cocoa pod production trends ........................................................................................................................... 8
Table 7: Cost of production of hybrid pods .................................................................................................................... 9
Table 8: Cost of production and sale of hybrid pod in the different seed gardens ...................................................... 10
Table 9: equipment in the various seed gardens ......................................................................................................... 10
Table 10: Seed garden location, year established, area and varieties planted ........................................................... 16
Table 11: Land use on cocoa stations by regions ......................................................................................................... 18
Table 12: Production capacity of the seed gardens ..................................................................................................... 20
Table 13: Ashanti region‐Pod production available, labour and land resource for seed gardens (2008/2009) ........ 22
Table 14: Brong Ahafo region‐Pod production available labour and land resource for seed garden (2008/2009) ..... 22
Table 15: Central region‐ Pod production available labour and land resource for seed gardens (2008/2009) ........... 23
Table 16: Eastern region‐Pod production available labour and land on seed gardens(2008/2009) ........................... 23
Table 17: Volta region‐Pod production available labour and land on seed gardens (2008/2009) .............................. 24
Table 18: Total pod production and available labour and land size at the seed gardens in all six regions for
(2008/2009 season) ..................................................................................................................................................... 24
Table 19: Total pod production in the season including fermentable and non‐fermentable discards (2008/09)........ 25
Table 20: Equipment used in the various seed gardens ............................................................................................... 26
Table 21: Estimate of labour and materials required per annum of 1 ha cocoa seed garden ..................................... 27
Table 22: Plan for rehabilitating seed gardens that are over 30 years of age ............................................................. 29
Table 23: Seed garden location, year established, area and varieties planted ........................................................... 31
Table 24: Cocoa pod production method, output and distribution in selected seed gardens ..................................... 34
Table 25: List of equipment, agrochemicals and infrastructure in seed gardens ........................................................ 36
Table 26: Estimate of labour and infrastructure required per 3‐hectare seed garden ................................................ 37
Table 27: Status of the National Seed Garden Project in the 14 cocoa producing States............................................ 39
viii
List of Figures
Figure 1: Cocoa pod production trends .......................................................................................................................... 7
Figure 2: Land coverage on cocoa stations across the six regions ............................................................................... 18
Figure 3: age of cocoa trees on seed gardens .............................................................................................................. 19
Figure 4: Regional distribution of pod production ....................................................................................................... 25
Figure 5: Pod types available at seed gardens ............................................................................................................. 26
ix
Table of Content
Preface .................................................................................................................................................... ii
Executive summary ............................................................................................................................... iii
Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................... vi
List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................... vii
List of Figures ....................................................................................................................................... viii
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1
Background ......................................................................................................................................... 1
Overview of hybrid pod production in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria .................................................. 3
Cocoa seed multiplication in Cameroon................................................................................................. 5
Seed garden location, year established, area and varieties planted .................................................. 5
Cocoa pod production Method, Output and Distribution ................................................................... 7
Challenges and opportunities of seed gardens................................................................................. 10
National seed garden programs ....................................................................................................... 11
Cocoa seed multiplication in Ghana ..................................................................................................... 13
Seed garden location, year established, area and varieties planted ................................................ 14
Cocoa pod production method, output and distribution ................................................................... 19
Challenges and opportunities encountered in the operation of seed gardens ................................ 27
National seed garden expansion program ........................................................................................ 28
Cocoa seed multiplication in Nigeria .................................................................................................... 30
Seed garden location, year established, area and varieties planted ................................................ 30
Cocoa pod production method, output and distribution ................................................................... 33
Challenges and Opportunities of seed gardens ................................................................................ 38
National seed garden expansion program ........................................................................................ 38
Conclusion and recommendations ....................................................................................................... 40
1
Introduction
Background
Despite productivity gains of 50 per cent recorded amongst farmers that have fully adopted
cocoa hybrids as planting materials in their cocoa cultivation, access to such improved planting
materials still remains difficult and sometimes non-existent. In its cocoa household baseline
studies conducted in 2001/2002, IITA/STCP identified that production inefficiencies has given
rise to limited enterprise profitability among cocoa farmers. The study also noted that about one-
third of cocoa farmers experience a negative return on their investment in cocoa production.
What is more, it noted that yields per ha are low in West Africa compared to other regions of the
world such as in Malaysia and Indonesia. Lack of access to improved planting materials for
cocoa establishment is identified as being one of the main reasons for low yields in cocoa.
With production levels of between 200-700 kg of dry beans per ha across West and Central
Africa, governments are determined to increase production over the coming years. For instance
in Cameroon, the government in the year 2000 developed a 10-year plan with an objective of
increasing cocoa production from 100,000 MT to 200,000 MT by the year 2010. In Ghana the
national COCOBOD has set a target of 1,000,000 MT annual production by the year 2012. This
current development is not different in Nigeria where federal government has increased
intervention in the cocoa industry to boost production. The strategy for achieving success in the
respective countries includes among others a common activity of rehabilitation of old cocoa
farms using new and improved planting materials.
Cocoa like any other tree crop thrives well depending on its genetic qualities. This therefore calls
for the presence of well established seed gardens1 (seed sources) in the respective countries that
will make improved hybrid materials readily available and a dynamic and efficient distribution
mechanism, which will facilitate delivery of these materials to farmers to sustain the
rehabilitation process.
Establishing reliable and sustainable seed sources and distribution systems for new cocoa farm
establishment and rehabilitation of old cocoa farms require a public-private partnership approach
in which there is a collective responsibility of possible stakeholders including donors, relevant
government agencies, NGOs, CBOs, farmer organizations, and farmers. In this partnership,
complimentary relationships between the different stakeholders for the establishment of a cost-
effective and relatively self-sustaining system are required. This will then encourage farmers’ to
adopt and use improved planting materials for a sustained production.
In pursuit of it commitments to improve cocoa yields in West and Central Africa the IITA/STCP
carried out an assessment of the pod production capacities of the cocoa seed gardens in
1 A seed garden according to Aikpokpdion (2007) is a specialized tree orchard planted with known selected clones
as parents to generate hybrids of good genetic qualities of known yield, disease and pest resistance potentials.
2
Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria. The assessment is a critical initial step towards establishing a
successful planting material production and distribution system for cocoa farmers. The aim of the
assessment is to enable STCP to match the planting materials needs of the programs in the
various countries against potential supplies over the period of the program and also to enable the
STCP pursue measures that minimize the shortfall, if any of seed supply and demand in the sub
region.
This report is a synthesis of the results of the assessment from the 3 countries. The report
discusses findings from the various seed gardens investigated across the respective countries and
also provides a set of recommendation for the way forward in the management and operations of
the identified seed gardens. The objectives of the assessments were however, to investigate:
• When the various seed gardens were established and to determine their current
operational sizes
• What design and set up exist on various plots on seed gardens indicating the different
varieties (pod parents and pollen parents) in the design
• The method of production (open pollinated or hand pollinated)
• The most recent annual pod production capacity
• Pod delivery capacity (i.e., disease free and good quality pods delivered to farmers)
• Temporal (monthly) pod distribution and distribution schemes if any, i.e., quantities
delivered, number of farmers reached and period of year, mode of transport)
• How pod demand is estimated by the respective seed gardens as well as the
proportion of the demand that is per annum
In order to achieve the set objective, questionnaires tailored to the peculiarities in the various
countries were designed and information collected from October to December 2009.
3
Overview of hybrid pod production in Cameroon, Ghana and
Nigeria
A combination of a functioning seed garden and an efficient and dynamic seed distribution
system is the engine that drives an effective and efficient agricultural production. In the West
African sub-region very few institutions exist that facilitate the multiplication and distribution of
planting materials to farmers. Where such institutions exist, they are predominantly run by the
state and provide planting materials for especially food and tree crops at subsidized prices.
With over 400,000 ha under cocoa cultivation and the government’s ambition of a 100%
production increase by the end of 2010, Cameroon has only three state own seed gardens
covering a total area of about 149.9 ha. Out of this only 79.9 ha is effectively under production at
the moment planted with 17 different clonal varieties. These seed gardens have an estimated
annual production of less than 300,000 pods. The seed multiplication method is mainly hand
pollination. This according to official estimate represents one-fifth of the annual demand by
farmers even though there is no properly laid down procedure for estimating farmer demand of
hybrid pods. The shortfall in production has been attributed to old age of tree stocks in seed
gardens, declining soil fertility, dwindling land area under seed gardens, the use of obsolete
equipments and, the absence of methods to boost cocoa seed production. However, government
has initiated a number of interventions to help bridge the production gap. One of such initiatives
is the establishment of a cocoa and coffee development fund. This fund will be used through the
Cocoa and Coffee Seed Project (CCSP) to establish a 25 ha cocoa seed garden by 2011. It is
estimated that the new seed garden when completed and in full production capacity, will raise
500,000 pods to supplement what is currently being produced in the other seed gardens by the
year 2015.
Ghana has 1,400,000 ha of land committed to cocoa production. The country has 26 state own
seed gardens located in the 6 cocoa growing districts across the different agro-ecological zones
of the cocoa belt. The seed gardens planted with 16 different clonal materials are managed by the
Ghana COCOBOD through its Seed Production Unit. The average annual production capacity is
about 4.5 million pods with an effective seed garden land area of about 495.57 ha (out of a total
nominal area of about 2,732 ha). According to official estimates, this represents 66% of annual
hybrid pod demand target from farmers even though there is no properly documented approach
of estimating this target. Almost all the seed gardens use the hand pollination method for seed
multiplication. Challenges facing these seed gardens include ageing tree stocks, (about 60% of
trees are over 30 years), use of obsolete equipments over reliance on rainfall as a source of water
for production, and a dwindling land area. According to discussions held with some key
informants, the SPU has initiated a plan to rehabilitate and expand the seed gardens with new
clonal materials even though the process is slow. This is to help realize government’s target of
increasing production from 700,000 to 1,000,000 MT by the year 2012.
Nigeria has about 700,000 ha of land planted under cocoa. With a production level of 360,000
MT in 2008 and a drive to improve the largest non-oil foreign exchange earner (cocoa) for the
country, the federal and state governments are giving extensive support in policy direction,
provision of inputs and funds for research. In terms of improved planting material production,
4
there are 18 state own seed gardens in the country, which cover an effective area of 279.31 ha
out of the total available land area of 426.35 ha. Production in these seed gardens is by both hand
and open pollination with annual pod production of over 600,000 in 2006 and 2007 but dropped
to a little under 500,000 in 2008 with average annual production of 564,331. Challenges faced by
these seed gardens include ageing tree stocks, inadequate and untimely release of government
funds for operations, declining soil fertility and lack of skilled and unskilled labour. In a recent
effort to support the cocoa industry through supply of improved hybrids to farmers, especially
the recently selected highly precocious materials from CRIN, the Federal Government of Nigeria
mandated CRIN to establish a two-hectare seed garden plot in each of the 14 cocoa growing
states of Nigeria. This project began in 2007 and is expected to be completed by 2011. Once
successfully completed, cocoa farmers would have access to cocoa varieties with yield potentials
in excess of 2.5 to 3.5 tons/ha. Some of the selections are also highly resistant to the black pod
disease of cocoa. It is expected that, a well maintenance regime of the seed gardens by the states
coupled with carefully managed hand pollination would have a tremendous impact on the
Nigerian cocoa industry in terms of increased volume, higher family earnings and increased
foreign exchange from exports.
Table 1: State of seed gardens in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria
Seed garden
characteristics
Countries
Cameroon Ghana Nigeria
Land area (ha) 79.9 (149.6) 495.57 (2,732) 279.31 (426.35)
Number of seed
gardens
3 26 18
Average age of tree
stock
>40 >35 >40
Pollination method Mainly hand
pollination
Mainly hand
pollination
Both open and hand
pollination
*figure in parenthesis indicates the nominal land area for seed garden
Table 2: Annual production of hybrid pods in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria
Year Country Number of pods produced
2005/2006 Cameroon 137,671
Ghana NA
Nigeria NA
2006/2007 Cameroon 189,197
Ghana NA
Nigeria 617,839
2007/2008 Cameroon 254,814
Ghana 4,497,739
Nigeria 603,288
2008/2009 Cameroon 177,767
Ghana 4,841,428
Nigeria 471,866
5
Cocoa seed multiplication in Cameroon
Cocoa is an important crop for Cameroon. The national dry bean cocoa production remains
stable, around 120,000 MT per year, but has recently increased to 200,000 MT. However, cocoa
cultivation is actually subjected to several constraints such as the ageing of the trees mainly in
Southern Cameroon where 40% of cocoa trees were planted before 1960.
In a bid to improve production the government invested in the establishment of cocoa seed
gardens in a co-financed project between Cameroon and Belgium. The seed gardens were created
to multiply high yielding hybrid varieties of cocoa and coffee, which were developed by Institut
de Rcherche Agronomique pour le Développement (IRAD) and supplied to farmers through
extension agents at a highly subsidized price. The main objectives of the initiative were to
promote the production of tree crops in the six regions of Cameroon: South West, North West,
West, South, Center and Littoral respectively and; to train extension agents and farmers
practically on the establishment and management of cocoa and coffee farms in the country.
In recent times, the government is making frantic efforts to boost the cocoa industry in the
country. In line with this, the government has launched a campaign to stimulate the cocoa sector
by rehabilitating old and abandoned farms and to establish new ones as well. In order to do this
the seed gardens in the country are expected to produce the needed improved planting materials
for planting. However, according to the Coordinator of the cocoa and coffee seed project (CCSP)
in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the official demand for cocoa pods in the
country is five times higher than production from the seed gardens. This has come about as a
result of pests, diseases and ageing of cocoa trees in the seed gardens.
Seed garden location, year established, area and varieties planted
There are three state own cocoa seed gardens in Cameroon. These cover a total land area of
about 149.6 ha, and they are located and distributed as follows:
• One hundred and three (103) hectares located in Nkoemvone and established in 1960;
• In Mengang there is 34.6 ha of seed garden that were established in 1981;
• In Barombi Kang 12 hectares of seed gardens was established in 1981.
6
Table 3: Seed garden location, year established, area and varieties planted
Location Year
established
Nominal
area (Ha)
Effective
area (Ha)
Cocoa varieties
planted
Nkoemvone
(Ebolowa)
1960 103 50 SNK 13, SNK 64,
SNK 10, SNK 16,
SNK 109, ICS 40, ICS
46, ICS 95, IMC 67,
UPA 134, UPA 143,
SCA 6, SCA 12,
T79/467, T79/501
Mengang 1981
34.6 23.9 SNK 13, T79/467,
UPA 13, ICS 40,
T79/501, SNK 16,
SCA 12, SNK 413
Marombi Kang 1981 12 6 NA
Total 149.9 79.9
It is worth noting that these cocoa seed gardens have reduced in size over the course of the years.
Nkoemvona (Ebolowa)
The seed garden in Nkoemvona has reduced in size to half its original land area. Almost all the
trees on this seed garden are in full production. There are fifteen (15) different varieties planted
at this seed garden. Table 4 below shows the different varieties and the year of establishment.
Table 4: Clones in Nkoemvone by year of establishment
Type of clone Year planted
SNK 13 1972
SNK 13 1973
SNK 64 1960
SNK 10 1972
SNK 10 1975
SNK 16 1983
SNK 16 2002
SNK 109 1989
SNK 109 2009
ICS 40 2002
ICS 46 1982
ICS 95 1983
IMC 67 1989
IMC 67 2009
UPA 134 2002
UPA 143 1970
UPA 143 1960
SCA 6 1983
SCA 12 1983
T79/467 1983
T79/501 2002
7
Mengang
The Mengang and the Barombi Kang gardens have a few cocoa trees that do not produce unlike
the Ebolowa gardens with all cocoa pod producing trees. There are eight (8) different varieties
planted at this seed garden with their dates of planting indicating the table below.
Table 5: Clones in Mengang by year planted
Type of clone Year planted
SNK 13 and T79/467 1981
UPA 13 and ICS 40 1981
T79/501 1982
SNK 16 and SCA 12 1982
SNK 413 2005
Barombi Kang
There are no records of the varieties planted at this seed garden.
Cocoa pod production Method, Output and Distribution
The common pollination method across the different seed gardens is hand pollination, which is
mostly done by women. The Barombi Kang garden carries out budding as another production
technique. The seed garden in Nkoemvone is the only one that carries out grafting. In terms
Figure 1 below shows the production of pods in the seed garden for the past 4 years.
Figure 1: Cocoa pod production trends
As could be noted in Figure 1 above and Table 3 below, production increased from 2005 to its
peak in 2008. There was a drop in production in 2009. This drop, according to officials was due
to drought conditions.
8
Table 6: Cocoa pod production trends
Year Nkoemvone Mekak Barombi
2006 72 000 50 000 15 671
2007 91 000 60 000 38 197
2008 110 000 80 000 64 814
2009 73 000 50 000 54 767
Pod distribution mechanism
It is the policy of the Cameroonian government to distribute cocoa pods at no cost to farmers.
This is to boost the cocoa sector but it also seems to be a major hindrance to seed production.
The policy drives demand at high levels that are not matched by the production of seed pods in
the various seed gardens. As of now there is no properly designed mechanism for estimating
demand and distribution of pods since the CCSP stopped its activities on seed distribution.
However, the seed gardens sell improve planting materials to large scale farmers, small and
medium scale farmers and cooperatives upon request.
Cost of labour, materials and infrastructure for maintaining 1 ha seed garden
The average cost of production per pod is 284 francs CFA. Table 7 below shows details of the
cost of production of hybrid cocoa pod in the Barombi seed garden. The first assumption is that
the seed garden already exists and we are considering 1 ha as the unit of analysis for this report.
9
Table 7: Cost of production of hybrid pods
Description of item Qty Unit cost Total
Maintenance
Clearing in the course of year 4 30 000 120 000
Pruning in the course of year 1 40 000 40 000
Side shoot removal in the course of year 6 20 000 120 000
Removal of parasites, epiphytes, mosses 2 40 000 80 000
Creation of fire band round farm 1 50 000 50 000
Insecticide to fight against capsid (liters) 45 10 000 450 000
Labor to fight against capside for 9 sessions 9 30 000 270 000
Fungicide to fight against black pod (sachets) 100 750 75 000
Labor to fight against black pod for 9 sessions 9 30 000 270 000
Fertilizer in bags 11 20 000 220 000
Labor to apply fertilizer in 2 sessions 2 30 000 60 000
Sanitary harvest
Labor for main harvest 1 40 000 40 000
Routine harvest for 8 months 8 20 000 160 000
Manual pollination
We assume that there are 10 pods/tree multiplied by 1100 trees =
11 000 pods expected
We assume a success rate of 15% = 73,333 flowers to be
pollinated and that 489 man days would be required pollinate the
73,333 flowers.
489 1 500 733 500
Pollination materials
Forceps 4 2 500 10 000
Alcohol in liters 4 1 000 4 000
Cotton in rolls 4 1 500 6 000
Buckets 4 1 000 4 000
Others 0
Ladder 4 1 500 6 000
Cutlasses (depreciation) 4 x 3500/2 years 1 7 000 7 000
Sprayers (depreciation) 40000/4 years 1 10 000 10 000
Nose covers 4x5000/2 years 1 10 000 10 000
Overalls 4x 4x5000/2 years 1 10 000 10 000
Boots 4x 4x5000/2 years 1 10 000 10 000
Gloves 4x2500/2 years 1 5 000 5 000
Glasses (to protect eyes) 4x2500/2 years 1 5 000 5 000
Supervision (monthly) 12 40 000 480 000
Fuel per month for motorcycle 12 10 000 120 000
Depreciation of motorcycle 1 400 000 400 000
Sub total 3 775 500
Miscellaneous expenditure 10% 377 550
Total 4 153 050
Unit cost of 11000 pods 378
10
Table 8: Cost of production and sale of hybrid pod in the different seed gardens
Farm Production cost
per cocoa pod
Selling cost per
cocoa pod
Ebolowa 275 F CFA 50 F CFA
Mekak 200 F CFA 50 F CFA
Barombi 378 F CFA 100 F CFA
The various seed gardens vary considerably in the availability of working tools. All the seed
gardens have at least 3 sprayers with the seed garden at Mengang having the highest number
(15). The seed gardens in Nkoemvone and Barombi seed gardens have a Pick-up truck each as
shown on table below.
Table 9: equipment in the various seed gardens
Equipment Seed garden location
Nkoemvone Mengang Barombi Kang
Sprayer 10 15 3
Chain saw 1 3 0
Water pump 1 0 0
Wheel barrow 8 30 5
Dryer 0 1 0
Truck 1 2 0
Pick‐up truck 0 1 1
Lorry 0 0 0
Motor cycle 1 1 1
Tractor 0 0 0
Cutlasses/Scissors 5 20 20
Harvesting knives 10 3 10
Challenges and opportunities of seed gardens
The official average production of cocoa pods is estimated at less than 300,000 pods per annum
while the unofficial demand of cocoa pod is estimated at almost 1 000 000 pods. According to
the coordinator of the CCSP, the effective demand is about five times the production. A number
of constraints hinder the production of high quality cocoa seeds in the different seed gardens. In
all the seed gardens surveyed, it was mentioned that diseases and pests reduce the quantity of
cocoa pods that are produced every year. The major diseases and pests include black pod and
capsids respectively. As a control measure, pesticides and fungicides are used as treatment in all
the three cocoa seed gardens. All the managers of the three gardens testified that there has been
a decline in yield due to a decline in soil fertility. This was confirmed by findings from a
research activity carried out at Mengang to assess the soil fertility levels in the seed garden,
which showed a decline in soil fertility. This was attributed to soil erosion and inadequate
fertilizer application. Other challenges include but not limited to the following:
11
• Ageing tree stocks
• Dwindling land area of seed gardens
• Destruction of trees by bush fires
• Lack of trained personnel
National seed garden programs
The existing seed gardens are very old and need to be rehabilitated to meet the demand for seeds
by farmers. A number of initiatives have been put in place to boost the production of cocoa and
coffee planting materials in the country. These include:
a) The rural development program of the Mungo-Nkam basin
b) The IITA support project for tree crops in the Center and South West Regions
c) The MINADER investment budget projects
d) The Cocoa and Coffee Development Fund.
The government has put in place the Cocoa and Coffee Development Fund, better known by the
acronym, FODECC. To signify the importance of cocoa and coffee in the economy of the
country, the president of the Republic signed an act creating the fund. The major objective is to
refurbish existing seed gardens and create new ones. The budget for this project is 5,627,648,000
francs CFA (US$.11 724 2672) and spans from 2008 – 2010.
The sum of 1,116,625,000 CFA (US$2,326,302) was budgeted for 2010. Out of this amount,
495,574,000 francs CFA (US$ 1,032,446) was allocated to some cooperatives including
SOWEFCU, NWCA, UCAL and UCCAO with SODECOA and the CCSP who are the the
coordinators of the project.
The project also has set aside the sum of 1,408,000,000 francs CFA (US$ 2,933,333) to IRAD
for the period of 2008-2012. However, the fund does not take into account certain key factors
like:
a) The production of seriously needed clones
b) The massive production of seeds using biotechnology techniques
c) The refurbishment and construction of propagators
d) The production of root stock
e) The provision of facilities like transportation.
2 At the exchange rate of 480 CFA = USA$ 1
12
CCSP has started new seed gardens of one hectare each in Kumba, Mamfe (Obang) and
Menchum (Modele). By March 2010, another seed garden will be established at the old
MINENO site at Modele. Ten hectares will be established in Kumba, another 10 ha in Obang
with 5 ha in Modele. This implies that a total of 25 ha of new cocoa seed gardens will be in
place by 2011. Officials estimate that 20,000 pods can be provided per ha from these seed
gardens. As a result it is expected that 500,000 pods will be made available to farmers starting
from 2015.
13
Cocoa seed multiplication in Ghana
The commercial cultivation of cocoa in Ghana began after the introduction of cocoa beans into
the country by Tetteh Quarshie in 1879. Knapp3 (1920) described the seriousness with which the
people of the then Gold Coast took to cocoa farming as phenomenal. Cocoa farms were
established from the seeds in the cocoa pods procured from Tetteh Quarshie’s farm. The use of
seeds from farmers’ fields to establish new cocoa farms is still practiced in recent times. This
according to experts has partially affected yields due to the following reasons:
• Poor genetic and physical qualities of the seeds
• Susceptibility of old planting materials to most pests and diseases
• The unavailability of sufficient quantities of certified4 seeds to rehabilitate old farms and
to establish new ones
To address the situation the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG)5 was mandated by Ghana
COCOBOD to research into developing quality cocoa varieties which do not only give high
yield, but also are resistant or at least tolerant to the major pests and diseases. This is because the
use of certified seed in the production of any crop is found to be critical as the potential yield
depends largely on the inherent potential of the seed.
To improve on the genetic and physical qualities of the seeds in the country, the Amazonia type
of cocoa was brought in from Trinidad in 1945 to serve as additional genetic materials for
breeding program in the country. A cross was then made between the existing Amelonado and
the Amazonia to give the early-bearing, high-yielding hybrid cocoa, which has been the main
planting material for cocoa farmers since its development in 1964. In the early 1970s, CRIG
released the ‘Tafo series’. With this release there was the urgent need to multiply these varieties
for distribution to farmers. As a result the activities of seed gardens (as part of the cocoa stations)
became significantly important in the multiplication and distribution of hybrid cocoa seeds in the
country.
In the early 1950s cocoa stations6 were established in different agro-ecological zones in six (6)
cocoa growing regions in Ghana namely, Eastern, Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Western, Central, and
Volta Regions. As part of the general operations of the cocoa stations, cocoa seed gardens were
established at the stations to serve as sources of recommended hybrid cocoa pods for farmers.
Farmers were to use these seeds to rehabilitate their cocoa swollen short virus disease (CSSVD)
infested farms and/or establish new farms. The cocoa stations also served as centers for research
work.
3 Knapp, A.W. (1920). Cocoa and Chocolate: Their History from Plantation to Consumer. London
4 Certified seed is seed of a consistently high and known quality (genetic and physical quality) that has been
produced according to the rules and regulations of an official seed certification scheme and for which proof of
certification is available
5 An institution which emerged from the West Africa Cocoa Research Institute (WACRI)
6 Cocoa station refers to the seed gardens and the residential training facilities for farmers within its precincts
14
To operate the cocoa stations, the Seed Production Unit (SPU) was established by the Ghana
COCOBOD to take charge of the activities of the seed gardens. The responsibilities of the SPU
were to multiply and distribute certified cocoa and coffee planting materials to farmers. At the
moment there are twenty three (23) active seeds gardens out of the twenty six (26) seed gardens
in the country.
The high-yielding early bearing hybrid cocoa types developed by CRIG have been multiplied
and supplied to farmers as pods. Annual estimation by the SPU indicates that it produces an
average of 4.5 million hybrid pods per annum with the potential of producing about 6.8 million
hybrid pods and raising about 2 million cocoa seedlings per annum. In spite of such a relatively
higher potential to produce adequate seeds, accessing hybrid planting material is still
increasingly difficult due to the spatial gap between the SPUs and farmers location in various
communities. Consequently, a significant number of farmers raise seedlings from seeds
harvested from their farms resulting in declined yield.
Seed garden location, year established, area and varieties planted
Table 10 shows the geographic locations of the active seed gardens, year of establishment, and
type of plot designs as well as varieties of cocoa planted. The seed gardens are located in
different agro-ecological zones across six regions in the country namely Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo,
Central, Eastern, Volta, and Western Regions..
Ashanti region
It has six seed (6) gardens situated in Akumadan, Kwadaso, Poano, Jamasi, Fumso, and Jauso.
These gardens were established between 1963 and 1980. With the exception of Akumadan which
did not have any pod parent in its plot design all the other seed gardens had both pod parents and
pollen parents in their field designs.
Brong-Ahafo region
It has four (4) seed gardens located at Sankore, Goaso, Beachem, and Wamfie. They were
established between 1958 and 1982. There was no data available at Wamfie. The seed garden at
Sankore is the only one in the region that has Amazon, F2, and F3 varieties on the plots.
Central region
It has three (3) seed gardens situated in Breman Asikuma, Breman Baako and Assin Fosu. They
were established between 1959 and1974. There was no data available for the Breman Baako seed
garden. The seed garden at Breman Asikuma had a plot design with only pollen parents while the
one in Assin Fosu had a plot design with only pod parents.
Eastern region
This region has the highest number of seed gardens numbering 8 in all and located at Akoase,
Akwadum, Apedwa, Asamankese, Bieni, Bunso, Pankese, and Oyoko. They were established
15
between 1957 and 1982. Apedwa and Akoase seed gardens had only pollen parent on the plot
designs.
Volta region
This region has two (2) seed gardens located at Akaa and Ampeyo. There was no data available
for the Akaa seed garden, but Ampeyo seed garden, which was established in 1988 have only
pollen parent in its plot design.
Western region
It has 3 seed gardens, which are sited in Achichere, Boako and Saamang. They were established
in 1972, 1962 and 1990 respectively.
16
Table 10: Seed garden location, year established, area and varieties planted
Region/Location Year establsihed Type of design
Varieties planted Ashanti
Pod
Parent
Pollen
Parent
Akumadan 1963 √ C85, C77, C42, C67
Kwadaso 1965 √ √ C77,C75,C42,C67
Poano 1967 √ √ C75,C85,C77,C42,C27
Jamasi 1967 √ √ C85,PD150,PA7,C67,C42
Fumso 1972 √ √ C75,C42,C85,C67,C74
Juaso 1980 √ √ C75,C42
Brong‐Ahafo
Sankore 1977 √ √ AMAZON,F2,C85,C42,F3,C67,C77
Goaso 1962 √ √ C85,C42,CCM,C67,C77
Beachem 1982 √ √ C67,C84,C74
Wamfie 1958 NA NA NA
Central
Breman Asikuma 1963 √ C42,C77,C69
Assin Fosu 1974 √ C85,C77,C74,C75
Breman Baako 1959 NA NA NA
Eastern
Pankese 1957 √ √ C42,C74,C67
Oyoko 1958 √ √ C42,C85,C77
Apedwa 1961 √ C67,C77,C74
Asamankese 1961 √ √ C42,C85,C67
Bieni 1961 √ √
Bunso 1962 √ √ C20,C77,C75,C42,C85,C67,C69
Akwadum 1981 √ √ C77,C20,C85,C42,C67
17
Land use on cocoa stations in the six regions
Only 18% (495 ha) of the total land (2,732 ha) dedicated to the cocoa stations are used for hybrid
seed production. The rest are used for cocoa production, other crops and the remaining is left as
fallow land as indicated on Figure 4. Table 11 shows a regional representation of the land use on
cocoa stations across the country.
Akoase 1982 √ C85,C77,C42,C67
Volta
Ampeyo 1988 √ C85,C77,C42,C67
Akaa 1958 NA NA NA
Western
Achichere 1972 √ √ C77,C67
Boako 1962 √ √ C75,C85,C77,C67,C42
Saamang 1990 √ C85,C42,PA7,C67,C77
18
Figure 2: Land coverage on cocoa stations across the six regions
Table 11: Land use on cocoa stations by regions
Region
Available
land
Crop
production
Cocoa
production
Other
crops
Seed
garden
Fallow
land
Ashanti 700.30 375.66 283.67 91.99 106.50 218.14
Brong‐Ahafo 466.20 295.95 265.97 29.98 77.60 92.65
Central 237.32 157.03 139.12 17.91 22.40 57.89
Eastern 898.32 506.01 425.83 80.18 201.43 190.89
Volta 27.50 17.00 16.50 0.50 11.00 NA
Western 402.40 74.00 67.00 7.00 76.64 251.76
Grand Total 2,732.04 1,425.65 1,198.09 227.56 495.57 810.82
Age of cocoa trees in the seed gardens
Seventy five percent (75%) of all trees in the seed gardens across the country are more than 25
years of age as represented in Figure 3 below. Interviews with respondents show that 83% of
station officers stated that productive trees produce 60 pods per tree per annum. This occurs
predominantly when trees are less than 30 years old. And with about 60% of trees over 30 years
19
they cannot produce the required number of pods; hence the failure of most seed gardens to
achieve their set targets.
Figure 3: Age of cocoa trees on seed gardens
Cocoa pod production method, output and distribution
With the exception of the seed garden at Akoase in Eastern region that uses open pollination, all
the cocoa seed gardens surveyed used hand pollination for pod production. There was lack of
pollinators in about 50% of the seed gardens. A compilation of production trends from previous
years on the various seed gardens indicate that actual annual production is about 4.5 million
pods, while potential annual capacity is pegged at 6.8 million pods ( Table 12).
20
Table 12: Production capacity of the seed gardens
Region/Cocoa station
Potential
Production
Capacity
Actual
Production
Capacity
% of Target
Achieved
Ashanti 1,445,714 1,031,934 71
Akumadan 70,754 62,886 89
Fumso 525,060 304,595 58
Jamasi 153,888 161,914 105
Juaso 175,560 176,158 100
Kwadaso 215,452 210,515 98
Poano 305,000 115,866 38
Brong‐Ahafo 1,111,180 1,010,581 91
Beachem 328,980 278,402 85
Goaso 428,200 378,010 88
Sankore 354,000 354,169 100
Central 467,000 287,068 61
Assin Fosu 208,440 125,992 60
Breman Asikuma 258,560 161,076 62
Eastern 1,707,189 1,040,693 61
Akoase 537,600 215,013 40
Akwadum 130,800 68,578 52
Apedwa 160,000 116,667 73
Asamankese 228,120 125,922 55
Bieni 421,260 194,575 46
21
Bunso NA NA NA
Oyoko NA NA NA
Pankese 229,349 319,888 139
Volta 228,880 101,770 44
Ampeyo 228,880 101,770 44
Western 1,878,780 1,025,743 55
Achichere 820,200 515,443 63
Boako 678,240 175,300 26
Saamang 380,340 335,000 88
Grand Total 6,838,683 4,497,739 66
Pod production on seed gardens during 2008/2009 planting season
There were three categories of pod produced from the seed gardens. These include good pods,
fermentable discards and non-fermentable discards. Seeds from both the good pods and the
fermentable discards are used for planting, while the non-fermentable discards are processed and
sold.
22
Ashanti region
Within the period under review for this study, Ashanti region produced 1,044,118 pods with staff
strength of 392 people. The total production per unit labour was 2,393.25 with 8,808.95 of
production per hectare.
Table 13: Ashanti region‐Pod production available, labour and land resource for seed gardens (2008/2009)
Area Total
pods
produced
Good pods
produced
Permanent
labour
Casual
labour
Land
Size
Production/U
nit Labour
Production
/Ha
Total 1,044,118 938,153.00 141 251 106.5 2,393.25 8,808.95
AKUMADAN 70,754 62,886 13 26 5.14 1,612.46 12,234.63
FUMSO 304,595 304,319 35 49 36.44 3,622.85 8,351.23
JAMASI 153,714 110,700 19 39 10.52 1,908.62 10,522.81
JUASO 176,758 133,867 24 60 12.00 1,593.65 11,155.58
KWADASO 215,452 210,515 34 46 28.40 2,631.44 7,412.50
POANO 122,845 115,866 16 31 14.00 2,465.23 8,276.14
Brong-Ahafo region
Seed gardens in Brong-Ahafo region produced a total of 943,906 pods with staff a strength of
251 people. The region produced 3,511.88 per unit labour of production and 11,359.29 of
production per hectare.
Table 14: Brong Ahafo region‐Pod production available labour and land resource for seed garden (2008/2009)
Area Total Pods
Produced
Good
Pods
Produced
Permanent
labour
Casual
labour
Land Size Production/Un
it Labour
Productio
n/Ha
Total 943,906 881,481 69 182 77.6 3,511.88 11,359
BEACHEM 271,401 249,117 22 37 42 4,222.32 5,931
GOASO 378,010 367,819 22 41 18.4 5,838.40 19,990
SANKORE 294,495 264,545 25 104 17.2 2,050 15,380
23
Central region
Central region produced a total of 287,068 pods with a staff strength 192 people.
Table 15: Central region‐ Pod production available labour and land resource for seed gardens (2008/2009)
Area Total
pods
produced
Good
pods
produced
Permanent
labour
Casual
labour
Land
Size
Production/
unit labour
Production
/Ha
Total 287,068 262,913 114 78 22.4 1,369.34 11,737.19
ASSIN FOSU 125,992 112,024 55 38 9.6 1,204.56 11,669.17
BREMAN
ASIKUMA
161,076 150,889 59 40 12.8 1,524 11,788
Eastern region
Eastern region with its eight (8) seed gardens produced a total of 1,425,938 pods with a staff
strength of 552 people.
Table 16: Eastern region‐Pod production available labour and land on seed gardens(2008/2009)
Area Total Pods
Produced
Good Pods
Produced
Perma
‐nent
labour
Casual
labour
Land Size Production/
Unit labour
Production
/Ha
Total 1,425,938 1,166,231 190 362 201.426 2,112.74 5,789
AKOASE 70,060 69,524 11 17 2.72 2,483.00 25,560
AKWADUM 65,304.00 59,957.00 13 15 9.03 2,141.32 6,639.76
APEDWA 116,667.00 86,891.00 26 47 52.00 1,190.29 1,670.98
ASAMANKESE 125,922.00 120,224.00 21 47 9.00 1,768.00 13,358.22
BIENI 194,575.00 193,645.00 23 59 4.00 2,361.52 48,411.25
BUNSO 533,522.00 406,641.00 60 97 91.08 2,590.07 4,464.85
OYOKO NA NA 12 20 5.60 ‐ ‐
PANKESE 319,888 229,349 24 60 28.00 2,730.35 8,191
24
Volta and Western regions
Volta region with one seed garden produced a total of 114,142 pods with staff strength of 31
people. Western region with staff strength of 165 people produced 1,026,256 pods, which is the
second highest after the Eastern region.
Table 17: Volta region‐Pod production available labour and land on seed gardens (2008/2009)
Area
Total Pods
Produced
Good Pods
Produced
Perma‐
nent
labour
Casual
labour
Land
Size
Production/
Unit Labour
Production/
Ha
VOLTA total 114,142 101,770 14 17 11 3,282.90 9,251.82
AMPEYO 114,142 101,770 14 17 11 3,282.90 9,251.82
WESTERN total 1,026,256 862,014 87 78 37 5,224.33 11,247.57
ACHICHERE 515,443 417,402 32 42 19.82 5,633.95 21,059.64
BOAKO 175,300 174,090 36 46 37 2,123.05 4,705.14
SAAMANG 335,513 270,522 19 32 19.82 5,304.35 13,648.94
Although all the respondents agreed that it was important to estimate annual pod demands by
farmers, none of them had any mechanism in place to assess farmer pod demand. However,
respondents indicated that this can easily be done by estimating the total area to be planted under
cocoa and the number of farmers requiring pods.
Table 18: Total pod production and available labour and land size at the seed gardens in all six regions for
(2008/2009 season)
REGION
Total Pods
produced
Good
pods
produced
Perma‐
nent
labour
Casual
labour
Land
Size
Production/U
nit Labour Production/Ha
ASHANTI 1,044,118. 938,153 141 251 106.5 2,393.25 8,808.95
BRONG AHAFO 943,906 881,481 69 182 77.6 3,511.88 11,359.29
CENTRAL 287,068 262,913 114 78 22.4 1,369.34 11,737.19
EASTERN 1,425,938 1,166,231 190 362 201.43 2,112.74 5,789.87
VOLTA 114,142 101,770 14 17 11.00 3,282.90 9,251.82
WESTERN 1,026,256 862,014 87 78 76.64 4,162.57 11,247.57
Grand Total 4,841,428 4,212,562 615 1010 495.57 2,592.35 8,500.44
25
Figure 4: Regional distribution of pod production
Table 19: Total pod production in the season including fermentable and non‐fermentable discards (2008/09)
Region Total Pods
Produced
Good Pods
Produced
Fermentable
Discards
Non‐Fermentable
Discards
Ashanti 1,044,118 938,153 87,023 18,942
Brong‐ Ahafo 943,906 881,481 50,778 11,647
Central 287,068 262,913 18,335 5,820
Eastern 1,425,938 1,166,231 198,922 60,785
Volta 114,142 101,770 12,372 0
Western 1,026,256 862,014 150,228 14,014
Grand Total 4,841,428 4,212,562 517,658 111,208
26
Figure 5: Pod types available at seed gardens
Cost of labour, materials and infrastructure for expanding output of seed gardens by 15%
Inventory of equipment used by the seed gardens at the various locations is shown on Table 20
below. An estimate of the cost involved to plant one (1) hectare of a seed garden to produce
improved hybrid pods is also indicated in table 21 below.
Table 20: Equipment used in the various seed gardens
Motorized mist blower
Knapsack sprayer
Chain saw machine
Harvesting hook
Water pump
Vehicles
Forceps
Pruning knifes
Cutlasses
27
Table 21: Estimate of labour and materials required per annum of 1 ha cocoa seed garden
Item Quantity Unit Cost (GHC) Total Value (GHC)
Labour
Farm hands 6 1,200.00 7,200.00
Pollinators 3 840.00 2,520.00
Security guards 1 170.00 170.00
Sub‐Total 9,890.00
Materials
Assorted Agrochemicals 22 11.00 242.00
Knapsak sprayer 3 35.00 105.00
Prunning knife 15 10.00 150.00
Harvesting hook 4 29.00 116.00
Cutlass 8 5.00 40.00
Fertilizer 3 16.00 48.00
Motorised sprayer 1 450.00 450.00
Sub‐Total 1,151.00
Grand Total 11,041.00
Challenges and opportunities encountered in the operation of seed gardens
Cocoa seed gardens in the country are confronted with numerous challenges, which have
affected the operations in recent times. Some of the challenges indicated by respondents include
the following;
• Old age of cocoa trees
• Dwindling land area for seed gardens
• Poor staff incentives
• Encroachment of acquired land by communities
• Incidence of pests and diseases
28
• Inadequate funding from government
• Lack of basic equipment
• Over-reliance on rainfall for production
• Land litigation
In spite of these challenges, there exist some opportunities for the seed gardens in the country to
address the challenges. These include:
• Large pool of educated staff
• Large tracts of land for seed garden expansion
• Strong linkage with CRIG
• Existence of huge demand for pods and seedlings
• Availability of technical knowhow from CRIG
• Substantial support from COCOBOD
National seed garden expansion program
The SPU has been undertaking a long term rehabilitation and expansion program in the seed
gardens in order to improve production. The aim is to rejuvenate or replace completely old and
moribund trees with dead and/or moss covered cushions as well as swollen shoot infected trees.
The program involves three methods namely
• Coppicing and filling gaps,
• Under-planting before uprooting/cutting down old trees and
• Complete uprooting or cutting of old trees with total replanting
According to the SPU the program is designed to rehabilitate over 208 ha of seed gardens and it
will cover a period of five years. In order to see this through in 2009 for instance, 4 ha of the
seed garden in Pankese, and 2.4 ha of seed garden in Boako were coppiced and gaps filled. In
2010, 2 ha of the seed garden in Kwadaso and 1.6 ha of seed garden in Boako have been
coppiced and filling of gabs is underway. Table 22 below shows the SPU’s plan for rehabilitation
in some selected seed gardens in the country.
29
Table 22: Plan for rehabilitating seed gardens that are over 30 years of age
Station Hectarage
over 30
years
Method for
rehabilitation
Program for rehabilitation
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
Bumso 61.51 Complete
tree removal
6.06 4.04 8.08 4.04 4.04
Pankese 24.24 Coppicing 4.04 4.04 4.04 4.04 8.08
Apedwa 16.16 Complete
tree removal
4.04 4.04 4.04 4.04 ‐
Bieni 9.05 Complete
tree removal
2.02 2.02 2.02 2.99 ‐
Asamankese 5.28 Complete
tree removal
1.62 1.62 1.62 0.42 ‐
Kwadaso 5.67 Coppicing 1.62 1.62 1.62 0.81 ‐
Jamasi 4.00 Coppicing 2.00 2.00 ‐ ‐ ‐
Akomadan 4.04 Coppicing 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.01 ‐
Juaso 8.08 Coppicing 2.02 2.02 2.02 2.02 ‐
Poano 6.48 Coppicing 1.62 1.62 1.62 1.62 ‐
Fumso 14.17 Complete
tree removal
4.04 4.04 4.04 2.05 ‐
Bechem 12.92 Coppicing 3.23 3.23 3.23 3.23 ‐
Boako 20.49 Coppicing 4.04 4.04 4.04 4.04 4.33
Achichire 2.60 Complete
tree removal
2.60 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
Breman
Asikuma
11.33 Coppicing 2.02 2.02 2.02 2.02 3.25
Assin Foso 2.02 Coppicing 2.02 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
Total 208.04 ‐ 32.33 39.40 37.36 44.00 19.70
30
Cocoa seed multiplication in Nigeria
Cocoa is an important economic tree crop in Nigeria. In 2008 for instance, the nation produced
360,000 MT of cocoa. It is the largest non-oil foreign exchange earner, and contributes
significantly to the nation’s GDP. Following the abolition of the Nigerian Cocoa Board and the
deregulation of the cocoa economy in 1986, the industry is now essentially private sector driven.
Federal and State governments have been providing extensive support in policy direction,
provision of inputs and research financing.
The Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) and International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA)/ Sustainable Tree Crops Programme (STCP) have deepened research lately to
benefit the industry, particularly the farmers. Work done in the country suggests that one of the
major challenges facing the cocoa industry is the fact that farmers still raise seedlings from
seeds collected from their plantations, rather than use improved planting materials collected from
approved seed gardens. What is more disturbing is the fact that the average age of cocoa trees in
the country is over 40 years old. The future of the farmers in the industry could therefore be
improved by regularly providing them with improved planting materials. This is likely to
discourage planting of seedlings raised from seeds collected from plantations, which would
subsequently guarantee higher yield.
Considerable effort at supporting the cocoa industry through distribution of selected improved
hybrids to farmers was embarked upon by the Western Region government since independence.
This was realized through the establishment of cocoa seed garden by the CRIN for some states in
the country. Most of these gardens are at least 30 years old.
Seed garden location, year established, area and varieties planted
Cocoa seed gardens in Nigeria are located in Ondo, Osun, Oyo States in the South-west zone; in
Edo and Cross River State in the South-south zone and; in Abia State in the South-east zone.
Information on the location, year establishment and the area of the seed gardens/ experimental
plots as well as the varieties planted are presented in Table 23.
31
Table 23: Seed garden location, year established, area and varieties planted
Zone State Location Year
established
Nominal
area (Ha)
Effective
area (Ha)
Cocoa varieties planted
South‐
West
Ondo Ile‐Oluji
Ibule
Ibule (CRIN)
Alade
Idanre
Owena
Owena
(CRIN)
Otu (Ore)
1968 – 1978
1962
1977
1956
1966
1976
1962
12.03
33.4
4.0
4.5
28.0
4.3
20.23
8.03
11.0
2.1
0.5
16.5
2.0
9.2
C69 x C20
Trinidad; CRIN Series I
& II
IT, CRIN Elite;
NA 32 x PA 35
C75 x C18; C75 x C25;
C75 x C14; C77 x C27
C75 x C25; C74 x C24
1956 ‐ 1978 106.46 49.33
Osun EWS, Ilesa
Ilerin Ilesa
Esa‐Oke
1961
1962
1979
5.2
6.0
5.0
NAV
“
“
C77 x C27
C74 x C18
C77 x C27
1961 ‐ 1979 16.2 ‐
Oyo CRIN Hqts
IdiAyunre
1964 255.49 229.98 F2 and F3 Amazon,
CRIN Elite. Clones
planted in CFC plots
areT65XT10/15,
T86/2X T22/28,
T86/2XT9/15,
P7XPA150,
P7XT60/887.
South‐
south
Edo
(Experimental
plots)
Plantation
1967‐1975
31.5
NAV
Trinidad, F3 Amazon
Cross River
(Experimental
plots)
Ajassor 1975 4.4 NAV F3 Amazon, CRIN Elite
South‐
East
Abia
(Experimental
plots)
Ibeku 1971‐1986 28.5 NAV F3 Amazon
32
Ondo State Seed Gardens
Of the seven (7) seed gardens in Ondo State, five (5) belonged to the state government, and two
(2) to CRIN. The state government seed gardens are located at Ile-Oluji, Ibule, Alade Idanre,
Owena and Otu (Ore). The two (2) seed gardens owned by CRIN are at Ibule and Owena where
the state government also has established its own seed gardens. In Ile Oluji, there are three (3)
seed gardens belonging to Ondo State Government. These were established between 1968 and
1978, and occupy a total area of 12.03 ha, with an effective area of 8.03 ha under plantation.
There is a state seed garden in Ibule, which was established in 1962 and occupies an area of 33.4
ha, with effective coverage of only 11 ha. Another seed garden is located in Alade Idanre and
established in 1956, but the effective coverage has dwindled from 4.5 ha to only 0.5 ha. The
seed garden at Owena was established in 1966 and occupies an effective area of 16.5 ha which is
a far cry from the initial 28 ha. The Otu (Ore) seed garden was established in 1962. The effective
area is now 9.2 ha as against the former 20.23 ha.
It must be noted that the effective sizes of all the seed gardens in Ondo State have dwindled to
between 11 and 66.7 per cent of their nominal areas with most of them being less than half of
their nominal areas. There are diverse cocoa varieties and clonal materials planted in these
gardens. Cocoa varieties planted in the state government seed gardens include C75 x C18; C75 x
C25; C75 x C14; C77 x C27 and NA32 x PA35.
CRIN seed gardens
The CRIN seed gardens were established later in the seventies and are similarly not effectively
planted up. The position of CRIN seed gardens in Ibule and Owena is similar to those owned by
the State Government. For example, the Ibule seed garden established in 1977 effectively covers
2.1 ha as against the nominal area of 4 ha, while the effective area of the Owena garden is 2 ha as
against the nominal area of 4.3 ha. The CRIN seed gardens at Ibule and Owena have CRIN
Series 1 and 11; CRIN Elite and Trinidad.
Osun State seed gardens
There are three (3) state own seed gardens located here. The garden at EWS, Ilesa was
established in 1961, the one in Ilerin-Ilesa was established in 1962 and Esa-Oke was established
in 1979. The nominal area of the seed gardens at their time of establishment were 5.2 ha, 6.0 ha
and 5.0 ha respectively. Estimates of their effective areas are not available, but they are likely to
be the same as their Ondo State counterparts where most of the gardens are currently less than
50% in their effective sizes. The main cocoa varieties planted in the gardens are C77 x C27 and
C74 x C18.
Oyo State seed gardens
Four cocoa seed gardens were established by CRIN at its headquarters in Oyo State in 1964. The
fifth plot that has improved clonal materials is actually an experimental plot which was
established in 1999 with funds from the Common Fund for Commodities. Their nominal area is
255.49 ha out of which 229.98 ha were planted with different cocoa varieties in the 1960s while
the remaining 25.51 ha are planted to other crops. Available cocoa varieties in the seed gardens
include F2 & F3 Amazon, CRIN Elite, Amelonado, T65/7 XT10/15, T86/2 X T22/28, T86/2 X
T9/15, P7 XPA150, P7 X T60/887.
33
Edo State seed garden
The cocoa seed garden in Edo State, South-south Zone is in Uhonmora. It was established in
1967 as an experimental plot and occupies an area of 31.5 ha. An additional 2 ha is currently
being added to it. The main cocoa varieties planted in the garden are F3 Amazon and Trinidad.
Cross River State Seed Garden
The seed garden in South-south Zone is located in Ajassor and it is owned by CRIN. It was
established in 1975 and occupies an area of 4.4 ha. The main cocoa varieties planted in the
garden are F3 Amazon and CRIN Elite.
Abia State Seed Garden
The cocoa seed garden is located in Ibeku and was established between 1971 and 1986. It
occupies an area of 28.5 ha. The predominant cocoa variety planted in the garden is the F3
Amazon.
Cocoa pod production method, output and distribution
Information on cocoa pod production methods, output and distribution are provided in Table 24.
There are two main methods of cocoa pod production in all the seed gardens. These are open
and hand pollination methods. Operators of most seed gardens in Ondo combined both methods.
The pod production method in all the seed gardens of CRIN’s headquarters in Oyo State as well
as the experimental plantations in Edo, Abia and Cross Rivers, are exclusively by open
pollination. However, in Osun and Ondo State seed gardens, both open and hand pollination
methods are employed..
34
Table 24: Cocoa pod production method, output and distribution in selected seed gardens
Zone State Responses on
production
Pod production Quantity of pods
Distributed and
Beneficiaries
OPEN
POLLI‐
NATED
HAND
POLLI‐
NATED
2006 2007 2008 2006
QTY NO
2007
QTY NO
2008
QTY NO
South‐
West
Ondo
Ile‐Oluji
Ibule
Ibule (CRIN)
Alade Idanre
Owena
Owena
(CRIN)
Out Ore
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
17,493
25,572
‐
13,681
86,976
15,937
38,281
21,841
14,687
27,002
84,029
16,686
23,260
7,871
22,587
12,950
8,537
27,662
15,871
10,428
1,371 ‐
700 ‐
‐ ‐
‐ ‐
4,185 ‐
‐ ‐
‐ ‐
1,000 ‐
1,500 ‐
‐ ‐
1,000 ‐
1,500 ‐
1,127
‐
‐ ‐
1,500 ‐
‐ ‐
‐ ‐
‐ ‐
‐ ‐
185
‐
‐ ‐
Osun
EWS, Ilesa
Ilerin Ilesa
Esa‐Oke
9
9
9
9
9
9
}
}44,451
}
}
51,010
42,595
(Little) ‐
(Little) ‐
(Little) ‐
Oyo
CRIN
Headquarters
9
347,592
263,059
293,406
57,576
13
60,255
13
‐ ‐
South‐
South
Edo
Plantation
Experimental
Plot,
Uhonmora
9
30,973
20,352
10,758
4,356 ‐
1,400 4
20 1
Cross River
Ajassor
9
‐
970
900
‐ ‐
‐ ‐
850
South‐
East
Abia
Ibeku
9
20,477
42,101
18,301
‐ ‐
‐ ‐
‐ ‐
TOTAL 617,839 603,288 471,866
35
Pod production in most of the seed gardens studied in the three zones did not show any trend
over the last 3 years. In Ondo State, the five state-owned seed gardens at Ile-Oluji, Ibule, Alade
Idanre, Owena and Otu (Ore), produced 160,109 pods in 2006, 194,413 pods in 2007 and 76,985
pods in 2008. In Osun State, the cumulative figures for the three seed gardens at EWS Ilesa,
Ilerin Ilesa and Esa Oke were 44,451, 51,010 and 42,101 pods in 2006, 2007 and 2008
respectively. At CRIN headquarters in Oyo State, the total pod production from the 4 seed
gardens was 347,592 in 2006, 263,059 in 2007 and 293,406 in 2008. In Edo State, the
experimental plantation plots at Uhonmura produced 30,973, 20,352 and 10,758 pods during the
3-year study. Production in Ibeku in Abia State for the 3 years was 20,477, 42,101 and 18,301
pods respectively.
It could be seen in the production figures that outputs fluctuate over the years with a cycle of
high production followed by a year of low production. It was observed during data collection that
there was a lot of irregularities in the pod yield figures per unit area. This was attributed to poor
record keeping. However Tree Crop Unit staff explained that late rains in 2008 and shortage of
experienced pollinators to carry out the hand pollination accounted for the low pod production in
2008.
Pod distribution mechanism
There is little or no information on pod requirement by beneficiaries. Data on pod distribution
are very scanty, while available information does not march with production figures. For
example, records on pods distributed at Ile –Oluji seed garden in Ondo State indicated that only
1000 and 1500 pods were distributed in 2006 and 2008 respectively. This was far less than the
7,871 and 38,281 pods produced by the seed garden for the same period. In Uhonmura, pod
distribution figures were 4,356 in 2006, 1,400 in 2007 and only 20 in 2008. Pod distribution
figures for CRIN headquarters are only available for 2006 and 2007, that is, 57,576 pods and
60,255 pods respectively. Distribution of pods in Ibeku (Abia State) and Ajassor Cross River
State were not available, while the responses in EWS Ilesa seed garden in Osun State were
sketchy as the operators reported that they distributed ‘little’ quantities. Observations show that
while the improved cocoa pods are available at the seed gardens, direct farmers’ patronage of the
seed gardens is still low.
Several reasons can be attributed to low demand of improved seeds from seed gardens by
farmers. Firstly, farmers in Nigeria rely on seedlings raised by the State governments for
planting. As a norm many farmers directly purchase or collect improved seedlings for planting
from government sources and so do not buy pods from the seed gardens. This is the situation in
many cases as the State and Federal Ministries have been intervening in the production of
improved planting materials at subsidized prices. Typically, the individual the states collect
pods from their seed gardens, raise seedlings and distribute to farmers at subsidized rates. The
States have yearly programs of seedling production. For example, for the past four years the
Ondo State has produced and distributed improved cocoa seedlings as follows:
36
Year No of seedlings produced
2005 2,736,530
2006 3,040,000
2007 2,000,000
2008 1,000,000
2010 1.5m (projection for 2010)
Secondly, most farmers raise cocoa seedlings from pods collected from their fields or other
unapproved sources, including neighbours’ fields.
Cost of labour, materials and infrastructure for expanding output of seed gardens by 15%
Responses received on the category of workers who are engaged in the operations of the gardens
indicate that both skilled and unskilled workers are required. The results from the three zones
show that there is inadequate staffing of the seed gardens in terms of permanent/regular and
casual workers, e.g., pollinators
Inventories of equipment, agrochemicals and infrastructure in most gardens are shown in Table
25. Many of the equipment needed maintenance and/or replacement. Also available materials
were too thinly distributed across the various seed gardens.
Table 25: List of equipment, agrochemicals and infrastructure in seed gardens
Equipment/Agrochemicals Infrastructure
Cutlass
Forceps
Wheel barrow
Knapsack sprayers
Motorized sprayers
Head pan
Water pumps
Solo pump
Drying slabs/raised platforms
Weighing scale
Tractor (owned by few)
Insecticides
Fungicides
Boreholes
Farm shed/farm house
Office building
Chain saw
Tractors
Motor cycles
The study considered specific activities that need to be undertaken, and the facilities that should
be provided to help improve the output of the seed gardens by at least 15%. In response to the
above, most seed garden operators were of the view that improvement efforts should target
maintenance operations. Some suggested the provision of fertilizer, agrochemicals and
procurement of appropriate equipment.
37
Based on the above requests, and the available labour materials and infrastructure, effort was
made to estimate the requirements to achieve 15% output expansion for an average 3 ha seed
garden. The computed estimates are indicated in Table 26.
Table 26: Estimate of labour and infrastructure required per 3‐hectare seed garden
Labour, Material and Infrastructure
Number
Unit Price
(N)
Total Cost (N)
1. Labour
Labour (per annum)
Pollinator (per annum)
Security men (per annum)
2. Materials
Fertilizer (50kg)
Knapsack sprayer
Motorized sprayer
Agrochemicals (Assorted)
3. Infrastructure
Hand dug well
Farm house
Drying slab
TOTAL
10 No
3 No
2 No
3 bags
4 No
2 No
50 Lts
1 No
1 No
2 No
120,000
120,000
120,000
3,000
10,000
90,000
3,000
100,000
500,000
17,000
1,200,000
360,000
240,000
1,800,000
9,000
40,000
180,000
150,000
379,000
100,000
500,000
34,000
634,000
2,813,000
======
38
Challenges and Opportunities of seed gardens
Many challenges currently affect the smooth operation of the seed gardens in the three zones.
These include the following:
• Shortage of technical workers (e.g., pollinators) and casual labourers
• Over aged cocoa trees
• Poor maintenance operations
• Inadequate and untimely fund releases
• Low demand of pods
• Depleted soil nutrients
• Inadequate number and poor condition of equipment
• Limited infrastructure such as borehole, farm shed, etc.
Despite the above challenges, cocoa seed gardens offer a lot of opportunities for the growth and
development of the cocoa industry as follows:
• Provision of high quality planting materials (early, maturing and high-yielding)
• Opportunities for research
• Provision of higher income for farmers
National seed garden expansion program
In a recent effort to support the cocoa industry through supply of improved hybrids to farmers,
especially the recently selected highly precocious materials from CRIN, Nigeria, the federal
government of Nigeria mandated CRIN to establish a two-hectare seed garden plot in each of the
14 cocoa growing States of Nigeria. The objectives of the Project, among others, are as follows:
• Empower CRIN to develop infrastructure for rapid multiplication of the new cocoa
variety
• Facilitate the establishment of seed gardens at CRIN headquarters, substations and the 14
cocoa producing States.
This project began in 2007 and is expected to be completed by 2011. Once successfully
completed, cocoa farmers would have access to cocoa varieties with yield potentials in excess of
2.5 to 3.5 tons/ha. Some of the selections are also highly resistant to the black pod disease of
cocoa. It is expected that, with a well maintenance regime in the seed gardens coupled with
application of appropriate hand pollination techniques would, have a tremendous impact on the
Nigerian cocoa industry to increase production volumes, farm household earnings and foreign
exchange from exports.
Sites have been selected in all the fourteen States namely, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Cross
River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Taraba States as well as
39
CRIN headquarters. The size of each seed garden is 2 ha. Planting of plantain suckers as shade
plants has occurred in most of the States, while planting of improved seedlings of cocoa have
been done in some States and CRIN headquarters.
Table 27: Status of the National Seed Garden Project in the 14 cocoa producing States
State Plantain suckers
planted
Cocoa seedlings planted Suckers
and cocoa
seedlings
Abia ‐ ‐ 9
Adamawa 9 ‐ ‐
Akwa Ibom 9 ‐ 9
Cross River 9 ‐ ‐
Delta ‐ ‐ 9
Edo ‐ ‐ ‐
Ekiti ‐ ‐ 9
Kogi 9 ‐ ‐
Kwara 9 ‐ ‐
Ogun ‐ ‐ 9
Ondo ‐ ‐ 9
Osun ‐ ‐ 9
Oyo ‐ ‐ 9
Taraba 9 ‐
CRIN Headquarters ‐ ‐ 9
40
Conclusion and recommendations
It is difficult to conclude whether cocoa seed gardens in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria are under
producing since there is no identified mechanism in place to estimate farmer demand. However,
respondents interviewed including officials indicated that production is lower than expected
demand. With current government’s efforts to increase national cocoa production due to low
productivity of over aged trees, there is the need to increase production of improved planting
materials to rehabilitate old farms and establish new ones. For this reason, it is recommended
that the respective countries consider the following:
In Cameroon:
• Government should provide funds to support the private sector to establish seed
multiplication and distribution centers to produce improved cocoa hybrids
• Government should provide funds for research into modern technologies in seed
multiplication like somatic embryogenesis, grafting and budding and to also train more
personnel in this technology
• Create more hybrid cocoa seed gardens
• Support existing research centers to produce cocoa seeds: There are a number of research
centers in Cameroon that should be supported
• Improve facilities and infrastructure in the seed gardens to encourage good working
conditions
• A systematic procedure in estimating annual pod demand and supply. This will help the
seed gardens to plan well for its activities.
Based on the findings from the Ghana study, it is recommended that:
• Government should provide funds for research into modern technologies in seed
multiplication like somatic embryogenesis, grafting and budding and to also train more
personnel in managing this technology.
• There should be an aggressive rehabilitation regime in all the seed gardens to replace the
old cocoa trees with new improved planting materials. These new planting materials
should be planted in an expansion program in the various seed gardens, especially in the
Western region since it produces over 50% of Ghana’s cocoa output. Some of the plots to
be replanted and expanded could be devoted to the establishment of bi-clonal seed
gardens which could produce additional pod even if they are not pollinated.
• The expansion program should take advantage of the existing fallow land. This will
reduce and in some cases avoid encroachment going on some of the cocoa stations. This
will also partially address the land ligitation problem.
41
• The seed gardens should adopt an irrigation scheme in order to reduce the over reliance
of annual rainfall for production. This will ensure an all year round production as
opposed to the current seasonal production being done.
• There should be a systematic procedure for estimating annual pod demand and supply.
This will help the SPU to plan well for its activities.
• The SPU should invest in modern equipments for its operations on the seed gardens since
most of its equipment are obsolete.
• Government should provide funds for research into modern technologies in seed
multiplication like somatic embryogenesis, grafting and budding and to also train more
personnel in these technologies
• A systematic procedure in estimating annual pod demand and supply. This will help the
seed gardens to plan well for its activities
• The SPU should supply other different types of planting materials like bud woods to
reduce the over reliance of seeds as the only source of planting materials in the country.
• COCOBOD should collaborate with other private partners to develop a reliable and
sustainable planting material multiplication and distribution systems for new cocoa farm
establishment.
From the Nigerian assessment it is recommended that:
• The states develop a package whereby government will pay for the pods which will be
distributed to farmers
• State governments should provide funds for research into modern technologies in seed
multiplication like somatic embryogenesis, grafting and budding and to also train more
personnel in this technologies
• Expand existing seed gardens to increase production
• State governments should provide funds for the maintenance of the seed gardens in terms
of equipment and agro-chemicals
• Improve facilities and infrastructures on the seed gardens to encourage good working
conditions
• A systematic procedure in estimating annual pod demand and supply. This will help the
seed gardens to plan well for its activities