Lagos: The introduction of the Nestl© Income Accelerator Programme (IAP) promises to revolutionize cocoa farming in Nigeria, providing significant financial incentives to farming families and addressing long-standing issues in the sector.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the IAP, launched in 2022, aims to close the living income gap and reduce child labor risks in cocoa-growing communities across West Africa. Despite Nigeria being a top global producer of cocoa, the country faces a crisis due to aged trees and the prevalence of diseases. Official figures from the Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) estimate annual production at approximately 280,000 metric tons, with average national yields critically low. This has resulted in low farmer income, discouraging younger generations and threatening the sector’s sustainability.
The IAP introduces a paradigm shift from traditional volume-based premiums to direct financial incentives for adopting sustainable practices. St©phane Detaille, Global Sustainability Manager for Nestl©, highlighted the program’s family-centric approach and its expansion to reach 30,000 families, with plans to extend to Ghana. The program offers financial incentives of up to 500 euros in the first two years, moving to 250 euros as farming practices improve, unlocking the full potential of cocoa farms.
The 2025 progress report on the IAP confirms tangible economic gains, including increased cocoa productivity and household income, improved gender equality, and enhanced children’s wellbeing. The program has successfully reduced the income gap for participants compared to non-participants, with significant uptake in agroforestry practices crucial for climate resilience and biodiversity.
Farmers like Faustin Menzan have attested to the program’s impact, noting increased agricultural resilience and school attendance. Industry leaders, including Daan Wensing and Charles Tellier, emphasize the importance of the IAP model as a blueprint for shared responsibility and the need for local financial literacy training to manage the new income stream.
Nestl©’s expansion strategy now prioritizes Nigeria, recognizing its critical long-term role and vulnerability to climate change. The IAP model’s adaptation in Nigeria could provide a three-part solution: cash for renovation and reforestation, a school bonus mandate, and data-driven diversification. This approach could significantly benefit Nigeria’s struggling cocoa sector, which currently faces low yields and outdated infrastructure.
Dr. Aisha Bello, a Nigerian Agricultural Development Advocate, sees the IAP as a template for African development, emphasizing economic dignity as the solution to challenges like child labor and low yields. Laurent Freixe, CEO of Nestl©, stressed the importance of collaboration in making a long-term positive impact on cocoa farming families.
By adapting the IAP model and collaborating with stakeholders, Nigeria has the potential to lift its cocoa families out of poverty and establish “Made in Nigeria” cocoa as a symbol of prosperity and ethical production.