In the heart of Nigeria’s cocoa-producing region, farmers are facing unprecedented challenges as escalating theft and violence threaten to derail their livelihoods. In Araromi Oke-Odo, a rural community in Osun State, farmers are now forced to adopt new, more cautious methods of harvesting, after a surge in criminal activity has targeted their valuable crops.
Once a routine task, the harvest of cocoa pods has become a risky venture. Farmers, armed with sickles and empty sacks, now head to their fields with the hope that their harvest will not be stolen before the day ends. The thefts, which have been growing in frequency, are having a severe impact on the farmers’ livelihoods. A farmer from the region recently found his harvest—worth about ₦500,000 ($323)—stolen, leaving only his tools behind as a painful reminder of the loss.
With cocoa prices rising on the global market, the region’s farmers have seen increased profits, but this windfall has come at a heavy price. Criminal gangs are now targeting farms, stealing valuable pods, and leaving farmers to shoulder the financial and emotional burden of their losses. Farmers are no longer able to ferment and dry their harvests at their farms, as they must transport all harvested pods the same day to avoid theft.
The thefts have prompted many cocoa farmers to alter their longstanding agricultural practices. The challenge is particularly dire for women, who often inherit farms from deceased husbands and must now cope with the added burden of protecting their crops while balancing the heavy demands of farmwork.
The problem has reached a critical point. In response to the lack of police presence, farmers have formed a local vigilante group to patrol the area and prevent thefts. However, the community’s efforts have not been enough. The nearest police station is located four hours away, and despite community efforts to build a local police station, no officers have been deployed for over four years.
Local leaders are calling for government intervention. “The lack of security is crippling us. We need action now,” said one community leader. Despite the urgent pleas, there has been little response from authorities.
Security experts warn that if the situation is not addressed, it could undermine Nigeria’s cocoa industry, which plays a crucial role in both the national and global markets. Experts predict that the rising thefts and insecurity could discourage further investment in the sector and lead to a decline in production, worsening the ongoing global cocoa shortage.
As the farmers in Araromi Oke-Odo continue to endure these challenges, they remain hopeful that a solution will be found. However, their resilience is being tested as the threat of theft and violence looms ever larger over their future.