Cocoa farmers in the Western North region are demanding a 25% increment in farm gate price for the 2021/2022 Cocoa season.
Ghana raised its farm gate price for cocoa by 28% for the 2020/2021 crop season.
The producer price pegged translates to GHC10,560 per metric tonne of cocoa hence a 64kg bag of cocoa is bought for GHC660.
The country is expected to open the 2021/2022 crop season in October which farmers are anxiously awaiting a significant increase in farm gate price.
Cocoa farmers and other Cocoa Cooperative unions in Sefwi Bekwai in the Western North Region are in unison, appealing to the government, Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), and other stakeholders that determine producer price of cocoa beans for the coming season to increase farm gate prices.
In an interview with Kwame Kontor Boateng, Lord FM reporter, the district cocoa farmer of Sefwi Bekwai, Mr. Kwame Obiriyeden, stated that the cost of production has skyrocketed in recent times, besides the hardship farmers are going through.
“General standard of living among farmers is deteriorating and therefore COCOBOD must grant a cocoa price increase to help transform the lives of poor farmers. This will attract the youth into farming to reinforce the aging farmers’ population.
Though, COCOBOD CEO, Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo and its subordinates in the Western North are doing their possible best, but will again we ask for more support”.
Sefwi Bekwai Cocoa Cooperatives Union Chairman, Issifu Isahaka (Gattuso), said, cost of inputs such as insecticides, pesticides, labor have soared significantly “so we need more money to buy the required quantities to supplement supplies from the government and also push COCOBOD to cushion the increase to 25%, between Ghc825, we’ll appreciate it”
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Kwame Kuntor/Obed Ansah
