Release Forest Reserve to Foreign Investors to grow cocoa – Farmer asks Gov’t.

A cocoa farmer at Sefwi Akontomra, Mr. Anthony Atta is asking government to release part of the country’s forest reserve to foreign investors to be use to  cultivate cocoa.

To him, those foreign investors have the capacity to embark on large scale farming that could help increase the country’s cocoa yield and also create employment for the teeming unemployed youth in the country.

Speaking to Fox News, Mr. Athony Atta, popular known as Ofa Atta who hails from Baworo near Ejisu, added that, considering the financial acumen of foreign investor, they can employ modern farming technology that can help Ghana to triple her cocoa production within the next five years.

Asked why he want the land to be given to foreign investors instead of Ghanaians, Ofa Atta said Ghanaian investors don’t have the right technology and financial muscle to large tracts of cocoa farm(s) that could guarantee the country triple of its current cocoa production with the next five years.

Cocoa is the chief agricultural export of Ghana and the country’s main cash crop.

Behind Ivory Coast, Ghana is the second largest cocoa exporter in the world

Cocoa production occurs in the country’s forested areas: Ashanti Region, Brong-Ahafo Region, Central Region, Eastern Region, Western Region, and Volta Region, where rainfall is 1,000-1,500 millimeters per year.

However, the country risk losing its position as the second highest producer of cocoa in the World following prolong drought that hit parts on the country, especially the cocoa growing areas in the past two or so years.

Source: Emmanuel Oduro