GHANA TO SLIP IN COCOA PRODUCTION

The Bosomtwe District Chairman of the Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association in the Ashanti region, Nana Matthew Darkwa, has warned that unless government reconsiders some of its major policy interventions implemented in the cocoa production sector in the last decade, Ghana could slip in the league of prominent cocoa producing nations in the world in the next few years.

 According to him, while most of the production initiatives are well-intended and thus very laudable, their implementation after years of introduction call for a review of some of them to make them profitable. 

He mentioned for instance, that while it is commendable for a subsidy on fertilizer, most of the cocoa farmers cannot afford the quantity they need to apply on their farms.

Also, the COCOBOD should consider giving the cocoa hybrid pods to the farmers to nurse on their own which has a greater potential to also create more jobs along the cocoa production value chain. 

Nana Darkwa made the call at Akyawkrom in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of Ashanti during a training workshop for members of the Ghana Agriculture and Rural Development Journalists Association, GARDJA. Nicholas Osei-Wusu has sent this report.

Apart from the one million metric tons of cocoa Ghana produced in the 2011-2012 season, the annual national production level afterwards has fluctuated between 750 and 850 thousand metric tons. 

These are despite the numerous policy interventions. However, production has over the years been hampered by a myriad of challenges.

 The workshop, organized by Ghana Agriculture and Rural Development Journalists Association, GARDJA, was therefore to update its members and upgrade their competencies to bring out the main issues to the attention of duty bearers for redress. 

The two-day workshop, which was participated by GARDJA members from Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Western regions, focused on the role of journalists in sustainable cocoa production in Ghana with funding by UTZ.

Nana Darkwa called also for the formulation and introduction of deliberate interventions by the state to attract the youth into cocoa production to as a backbone for the aging cocoa farmer population. 

Among such policies should be an aggressive rural electrification, upgrading of roads that lead to cocoa growing communities as well as provision of healthcare facilities in such communities to take care of the health needs of farmers.

The Chief Farmer commended GARDJA for devouting themselves to issues affecting agricultural production and rural development in Ghana and therefore pledged the support of the Cocoa and Sheanut Farmers’ Association for activities towards the attainment of GARDJA’s goals. 

The Country Representative of UTZ, Kwame Osei, said the interest of his organization is to support activities and entities to address issues negatively affecting cocoa production so as to ensure the sector becomes sustainable while giving the farmers value for their sweat. 

President of GARDJA, Richmond Frimpong, said another funding by UTZ secured will be used by the Association to motivate members to bring out issues militating against cocoa production in Ghana while helping to improve on their professional competence.