As part of the campaign to integrate Cocoa farming in Anambra State and to position Nnewi as Cocoa Nursery Growers Hub in the South East and South-South, plans are underway to open a Cocoa Market in Nnewi.

The opening of the Cocoa Market which is being mulled by the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter, is targeted towards revolutionizing cocoa business, rehabilitation of cocoa farms and also rebranding of cocoa trade in South-East and South-South.

The Market which is being championed by Chairman of Cocoa Association of Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter, Prince Dickson Samuel, is taking shape following the association’s visit to the palace of Igwe Nnewi, His Royal Highness, Igwe Kenneth Orizu (III) and the President-General of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi, Sir Ugochukwu Udemezu (Ifeneti Nnewi).

The association have started with a large nursery farm situated in Umuanuka Otolo Nnewi and also plans to establish nursery growing site throughout the twenty-one (21) local government area of Anambra State.

Cocoa is best known as the raw material for chocolate which uses approximately 90 per cent of the world’s cocoa production. Cocoa is among Nigeria’s leading agricultural exports and constitutes 2% of its exports annually.

It is the country’s third-largest export after crude petroleum, and liquefied natural gas.

Nigeria is also the fourth largest exporter of cocoa beans globally, behind Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Indonesia, according to the National Export Promotion Council.

Cocoa is almost exclusively grown in the tropics, mainly on small family and subsistence-level farms and Anambra State is blessed with the ideal climatic and environmental conditions for its growth.