Cocoa, cashew farmers decry multiple taxation

Multiple taxes and levies by state and local governments are taking a toll on cashew and cocoa farmers, making it difficult for them to meet the cost of farm inputs.

Stakeholders have appealed to the government to overhaul the tax system to enable farmers to overcome the challenges of climate change, spiralling input prices and the cost of energy.

Rising from a meeting in Lagos to review the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan they urged him to ignore calls to ban cocoa beans export.

At the meeting, were the National President, Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN), Sayina Riman and his counterpart in National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) , Mr. Tola Faseru, Cocoa Exporters Nigeria Group, Chief Olu Ogini and National Publicity Secretary of NCAN, Mr. Sotonye Anga, among others.

They demanded that the suspension of Negotiable Duty Credit Certificate (NDCC) by the Customs be lifted and multiple taxes and levies by state and local governments be abolished.

They urged government at all levels to promote local consumption and utilisation of cocoa and cashew products, create an enabling environment for value addition and partner with CAN and NCAN in stimulating growth across the value chain.

“We agree with the policy of the Federal Government towards stimulating growth in the sector by the involvement of true stakeholders.The policy should be consistent and structured and government should acknowledge the huge investments and contributions to the economy by all stakeholders in the value chain which directly benefit over five million families.

“Government should support the data collation of tree crop farmers given its peculiarities and the need for proper planning.

“The government should collaborate with the associations in enforcing ground rules within the trade structure and should ensure that Export Expansion Grant (EEG) policy is sustained,” the group said in a communiqué.

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