Nigeria’s cocoa-industry reduced its output estimated for the 2020 main crop by 18 % because of the spread of the fungal black pod disease caused by heavy rains in the country’s main growing areas. According to Mufutau Abolarinwa, president of the Cocoa Association of Nigeria, this year’s main crop is now suspected of dropping to 148,750 t from the previous estimated 181,475 t.

Nigeria is the world’s fifth-biggest cocoa producer and has two cocoa harvests. The main crop starts between October and December, and the smaller, second crop beginning from April to June. Mufutau Abolarinwa stated that rainfall in the last few weeks has been massive, leaving no chance for farmers to work on the farms.