PREPARE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE-COCOBOD TELLS FARMERS

Cocoa plant

Ghana Cocoa Board says the climate change phenomenon is real and has therefore expressed fear of the possible negative effects it could have on Ghana’s cocoa industry. 

COCOBOD’s medium term ambition is to propel the country to regain its former status as the world’s leader not just in cocoa production, but importantly, the producer of quality cocoa beans for the global market. 

This has informed the regulator to implement a number of reforms and incentives to boost production of the commodity.

 However, at a recent Annual General Meeting of the Kuapa Kokoo Farmers’ Union in Kumasi, a Deputy Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr. Francis Oppong admitted the reality of climate change and its effects on Ghana. 

The Deputy CEO noted that the natural phenomenon has already resulted in unpredictable rainfall pattern which is incidentally a major factor in agricultural production in general in Ghana.

 This is because the sector is highly dependent on rainfall such that the unreliable nature of rainfall is beginning to impact negatively on production. 

To minimize the effects on particularly cocoa production, the Deputy COCOBOD CEO advised cocoa farmers to select and plant the appropriate trees on their farms to provide shade for the cocoa. 

According to Dr. Oppong, this will help to reduce the harsh weather conditions particularly during the dry season.

 Dr. Oppong again complained about some cocoa farmers in some parts of the country who sell their holdings to others to undertake small scale gold mining. 

He said comparatively, cocoa has a longer life span than gold which is a non-renewable resource. 

He noted also with concerns that serious damage is being caused to farm lands while large tracks of cocoa farms are being destroyed as a result of galamsey or small scale mining. 

Such tendencies, Dr. Oppong noted, could have long term negative consequences on cocoa and agricultural production in Ghana and should therefore be stopped.