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Tag: (COCOBOD

  • Switch to producing cocoa organically to keep industry going – CEO of COCOBOD

    Switch to producing cocoa organically to keep industry going – CEO of COCOBOD

    CEO of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, is urging cocoa farmers to adopt organic production practices to ensure the cocoa industry’s long-term sustainability. He highlights the importance of organic methods, emphasizing their role in producing healthier cocoa, increasing yields, and contributing to environmental friendliness.

    Aidoo also calls on the media to encourage the use of poultry manure among farmers, which helps stabilize soil without causing harm to the environment. These recommendations were made during a media engagement in Sunyani, following Aidoo’s four-day visit to cocoa farms in the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions.

    His visit aimed to gather information, address farming issues, and ensure the recovery and long-term sustainability of the cocoa industry. During this visit, Aidoo interacted with cocoa farmers in various areas, including Bechem Cocoa District, Duayaw Nkwanta, Techiman, Bamreh, Sunyani Cocoa District, Goaso, Sankore, Larbikrom, and Mim.

    Aidoo explains that the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has introduced various interventions and productivity enhancement programs over the years, such as hand pollination and pruning. These initiatives focus on achieving a sustainable cocoa industry. Since their introduction in 2017, these interventions have significantly improved cocoa production in growing areas.

    The CEO notes that some farmers in other regions struggle to achieve high yields, often due to the failure to follow productivity enhancement programs. Aidoo emphasizes the importance of practicing pruning, which reduces the need for chemicals in cocoa tree maintenance.

    In the three regions visited, Aidoo observes a competition between cocoa and cashew farming, with some cocoa farmers transitioning to cashew production. However, he’s pleased to note that many farmers are returning to cocoa farming.

    Aidoo underscores cocoa’s significance in Ghana’s national economy, emphasizing the need to sustain its growth and its role as a renewable source of income for the country.

    He expresses satisfaction with ongoing rehabilitation efforts in the three regions, particularly the initiative introduced in 2017 to combat the cocoa swollen shoot virus disease. A survey reveals that 17% of cocoa land area nationwide has been affected by the disease. Aidoo assures that COCOBOD remains committed to recovering all lost farms and promoting the long-term sustainability of cocoa productivity.

  • We may cancel incentives should smuggling persist’ – COCOBOD

    We may cancel incentives should smuggling persist’ – COCOBOD

    The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), may rescind the provision of fertilizers, insecticides, and other incentives they provide cocoa farmers should the smuggling of Ghana’s cocoa beans to neighboring countries continue despite attempts to clamp down on the menace.

    Fiifi Boafo, the Public Relations Officer of COCOBOD made this known in an interview with Ghanaweb.

    According to him, the cocoa regulator cannot continue to raise revenues to supply cocoa farmers with fertilizers, insecticides, and other incentives to facilitate farming only for cocoa beans to be smuggled out of the country by some farmers.

    He added that should cocoa smuggling continue despite efforts to stop smuggling, the institution would be left with no other choice but to consider canceling the provision of such incentives to cocoa farmers.

    He explained, “If it (cocoa smuggling) continues, then COCOBOD would have to take a decision, because if you spend all that amount of money buying fertilizers, buying insecticides and all that to support the farmers and it is smuggled out of the system, where would we (COCOBOD) be able to have the money to pay for all these services?”

    “…This is because these services are funded by revenue from the industry so if such revenue goes out of the country, then it will be difficult to support such services,” he continued.

    Although Fiifi Boafo acknowledged that, the government’s inability to meet the desire price for cocoa is a major factor for cocoa smuggling, he was quick to add that it is not a justifiable reason since cocoa smuggling leads to loss of revenue to both farmers and the state.