Ghana recorded a historic production of 1,045,000 tonnes of cocoa in the 2021/22 crop season, Mr Joseph Boahin Aidoo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has said.
He said the nation’s average cocoa production had now increased from 450 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha) in 2017 to an impressive 800 kg/ha.
Describing it as unprecedented, Mr Aidoo said the achievements were because of the implementation of various laudable interventions and initiatives by the government.
Some of the initiatives included the Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme which stood out as a crucial response to the devastating impact of the cocoa swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD) that had plagued the industry.
Mr Aidoo made this known at the celebration of the 2024 annual festival of the ‘Brong-Ahafo’ Women Co-operative Farmers and Marketing Central Union (BAWCOF) festival 2024, held at Goaso, in the Ahafo Region.
It was on the theme “Growing a gender-equal future: Empowering women and youth in agriculture,” and brought together about 7,000 of the Union drawn from 96 societies in nine cocoa districts in the Bono and Ahafo Regions.
On the rehabilitation programme, Mr Aidoo said 74,813 farms covering 67,385.43 hectares and owned by 56,105 farmers had been rehabilitated and were doing well.
He said out of the figure 44,480 farms, which covered 40,150.40 hectares belonging to 28,510 farmers, were matured as of August 2024 and would be handed over to the farmers.
He said other interventions including pruning and hand pollination remained a game-changer in improving quality beans.
Mr Aidoo said he was highly impressed about the achievement of a female cocoa farmer who recorded productivity of 6.7 tonnes per hectare or 41 bags per acre, surpassing her male counterpart who produced 4.1 tonnes per hectare in the season.
“This clearly demonstrates the capabilities of women cocoa farmers in the country,” he stated, adding that for the first time in 32 years, COCOBOD did not resort to offshore borrowing or annual syndication.
Mr Aidoo indicated that “while successive National Democratic Congress (NDC) governments sought overseas loans for cocoa financing, successive New Patriotic Party (NPP) administrations successfully transitioned the country from over-reliance on foreign loans”.
He said COCOBOD had adopted a ‘zero-borrowing model’ to finance the 204/2025 crop season under President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government, saying since the season began in mid-September, farmers had been receiving prompt payments compared to the previous years.
Additionally, the Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) were now demonstrating a faster turnaround in their purchases and deliveries, he said.
Mr Michael P. K Asumanu, the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Administrator of the COCOBOD said women played a crucial role in the cocoa value chain, saying women were actively involved in preparing seedlings, harvesting, drying, and sale of cocoa beans.
However, he expressed concern about certain barriers that hindered women’s equality in cocoa farming, mentioning limited access to resources including land for farming and time constraints due to household responsibilities as some of the barriers.
Mr Asumanu said discriminatory social norms, perceptions, and cultural practices also had a significant impact on women’s participation in productive activities in the cocoa value chain.
Ms Martha Addai, the President of BAWCOF, urged stakeholders to help fight illegal mining, saying illegal mining activities “galamsey” continued to threaten the cocoa industry.
She also cautioned cocoa farmers against smuggling the beans to neighbouring countries, highlighting the importance of selling the produce locally to bolster the economy, thereby enhancing the socio-economic livelihoods of the people.
Ms Addai said the union was collaborating with Non-Governmental Organisations which were providing valuable training and support not only to improve cocoa production but also to empower farmers to be economically sustained in the off-season.
She said BAWCOF collectively managed 6,857.82 hectares of cocoa farms that yielded 82,923 bags of cocoa in each farming season.
The celebration also offered an opportunity for the union members to undergo free breast cancer screening organised by the personnel of the Cocoa Clinic.
Latest Stories
-
V/R Council of State aspirant congratulates Prosper Bani on appointment as National Security Team leader
17 minutes -
Fire guts Kwadaso Wood market in Kumasi
7 hours -
GPL 2024/25: Gold Stars revive title hopes with win over Berekum Chelsea
8 hours -
We won’t entertain arrogant appointees – Deputy NDC Youth organizer warns
10 hours -
Akufo-Addo’s Aide-De-Camp in good shape after collapsing in Parliament
10 hours -
NPP notifies Parliament of its selected leaders for the 9th parliament
10 hours -
Dumelo loses father days before his swearing in as MP
11 hours -
NPP’s Mandamus Application: This is how the High Court ruled on 4 disputed constituencies
12 hours -
‘Forty Weeks and More’ premieres Jan. 18 on Joy Prime
12 hours -
GHANET urges caution against HIV during the new year festivities
12 hours -
High Court in Accra orders EC to re-collate results for Techiman South
13 hours -
NDC files notice of appeal after High Court ordered completion of results collation in 4 constituencies
13 hours -
2024 Election: South Tongu MP-elect gave Mahama the highest percentage of votes
14 hours -
Daily Insights for CEOs: Mastering time management as a CEO
14 hours -
Kantamanto Market fire: Strengthen investigations or expect more fire – Dwamena-Aboagye
14 hours