The Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Ransford Anertey Abbey, has assured cocoa farmers that despite ongoing challenges in the sector, COCOBOD remains committed to improving their livelihoods.
During a farmers’ rally at Attronso in the Sefwi Bekwai District as part of his maiden three-day tour of the Western North Region, Dr. Abbey revealed that plans are underway to review the producer price of cocoa for the 2025/2026 season.
This, he said, is aimed at ensuring farmers receive fair value for their produce and to attract more young people into the cocoa sector.
“Despite our financial constraints, COCOBOD is committed to offering cocoa farmers a better price,” he stated.
Dr. Abbey raised concerns about the ageing cocoa farming population, warning that it poses a threat to the sustainability of the industry.
He stressed the need to modernise cocoa farming to make it more appealing to the youth.
“We’re working with the Ministry of Agriculture to introduce modern tools and technology to make cocoa farming more productive and attractive,” he said.
On climate challenges, he announced that COCOBOD would prioritise the introduction of irrigation systems to reduce the impact of erratic rainfall.
However, he urged farmers to join cooperatives, explaining that irrigation projects are more feasible and cost-effective when implemented for groups rather than individuals.
“We can’t provide irrigation systems for individual farms, it’s too expensive. Cooperatives offer a practical way forward, adding that illegal mining (galamsey) continues to threaten access to water resources needed for farming,” he noted.
Dr. Abbey also highlighted COCOBOD’s efforts to amend existing laws to better protect cocoa trees from environmental destruction, especially by galamsey operators.
He also assured farmers of the timely supply of fertilisers and agrochemicals, warning against the diversion of inputs intended for cocoa production.
Dr. Abbey concluded by calling for unity among stakeholders in the cocoa value chain to help revitalise and sustain Ghana’s cocoa sector.
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