Cocoa farmers have appealed to Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the industry regulator, to increase the producer price of cocoa beans in the coming 2020/2021 season by a significant margin.
According to the farmers, the cost of production has skyrocketed in recent times; and besides, the general standard of living among farmers is deteriorating, and therefore it’s imperative for COCOBOD to adjust the cocoa price so as to help transform the lives of poor farmers. This, they say, will attract the youth into cocoa farming to reinforce the aging farmers’ population.
In the 2019/2020 cocoa season, COCOBOD increased cocoa producer price for a bag (64kg) from GH¢475 to GH¢515, representing 8.42 percent adjustment. This time around the farmers are asking for a significant increase, pegging their demand at nothing less than GH¢700/64kg.
The 2018 National Best Cocoa Farmer and 2019 overall best farmer, Mr Charles Gyamfi from Tano North Municipality in the Ahafo Region, during Radio Interview with Rite Fm said: “Cost of inputs such as insecticides and pesticides have soared significantly.
“We need more money to buy the required quantities to supplement supplies from the government in controlling pests and diseases. If COCOBOD can cushion the price to between GH¢700 and GH¢900, we’ll appreciate it” He said
He expressed concern that the escalating cost of labour could push some farmers to revert to using weedicides for controlling weeds. He admittedly noted that use of weedicides on cocoa farms poses a serious threat to the country’s cocoa industry, and urged authorities to find pragmatic measures to address the challenge in order to discourage their use.
COCOBOD procured and distributed about 100,000 pieces of dual-purpose motorised slashers and pruners to cocoa farmers across the cocoa regions. The equipment’s introduction is to help phase-out the labour-intensive use of machetes for weeding and pruning on cocoa farms.
When asked about the slashers, the farmer commended COCOBOD for the initiative but indicated: “The machines cannot be applied on every cocoa farm. Most of us practice mixed cropping by growing other food crops, like cocoyam and cassava, on cocoa farms. Using the slashers on such farms will end up clearing the food crops”.
Charles Gyamfi noted that: “In the last twelve months, the price of liquid fertiliser per gallon has jumped from GH¢120 to GH¢150; the price of a cutlass used to be GH¢19, but now it hovers around GH¢23-GH¢25. Besides, the cost of transportation has also surged; and therefore it is economically wise for COCOBOD to respond with a price increase commensurate with the rising cost of production.”
Expressed optimism for increasing their production in the coming season. The actualization of the farmers’ vision would help COCOBOD achieve its target for the season under consideration.
On Wednesday, August 12, 2020, Parliament approved a loan of US$1.3billion from a consortium of banks and financial institutions for COCOBOD to purchase cocoa beans for the 2020/2021 season. The Board estimates to purchase about 900,000 metric tonnes through Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs)
Further appealed to government to construct roads leading to cocoa farming communities to enhance accessibility.
By: Austin Ofori Addo/ritefmonline.org
