A cocoa farmer
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16th March, 2010
A FUND WELL PROPOSED
GLOBAL demand of cocoa is projected to reach about 4.3 million tonnes per year by 2020.
Although Ghana was the world’s largest producer of cocoa in the early 1960’s, by the early 1980’s, production had dwindled almost to a point of insignificance.
The drop from the average of more than 450,000 tonnes per year to as low as 159,000 tonnes in 1983-84 was attributed to ageing trees, widespread diseases, bad weather and low producer prices.
In addition, bush fires in 1983, destroyed more than 60,000 hectares of cocoa farms.
Currently, Ghana is second to Cote d’Ivoire in cocoa production, although it produces the best quality cocoa beans.
However, the about 800,000 cocoa farmers in Ghana, appear to be the most vulnerable to the inequity in the distribution of the returns along the cocoa value chain.
They do not earn enough to support their livelihood and to reinvest in the cocoa production.
Yet much is required of them in turns of increased productivity and improvement in the quality by industry and government.
Successive governments continue to initiate a number of programmes aimed at improving the income levels of cocoa farmers. A case in point is the decision by the government to give cocoa farmers more than 70 per cent of the global price per tonnes of cocoa.
Despite the fact that cocoa production means so much to the economy, the government alone cannot tackle the challenges in the sector.
It is because of this that the government welcomes public and private partnership, especially, in the area of extension services.
The Times, therefore, views the suggestion by the African Cocoa Coalition (ACC) a non governmental organisation, that there should be a special fund to build the capacity of cocoa farmers, improve infrastructure in cocoa growing areas and enhance farmers income, as a proposal in the right direction.
The fund, according to the coalition, should be raised by grinders and manufacturers of chocolate and confectionary because they enjoy the largest returns along the cocoa value chain.
It is a fact that the current status of the global cocoa economy is skewed towards favouring industry when it comes to the benefit in the cocoa chain.
Studies have shown that about one-fourth of all cocoa farmers receive just over half of the total earnings from cocoa.
For the youth to take over from the ageing cocoa farmers, the Times suggests that adequate incentives be provided to prevent them from drifting to the urban centres in search of non-existent jobs.
Cocoa is indeed, Ghana, and Ghana is cocoa.
Although Ghana was the world’s largest producer of cocoa in the early 1960’s, by the early 1980’s, production had dwindled almost to a point of insignificance.
The drop from the average of more than 450,000 tonnes per year to as low as 159,000 tonnes in 1983-84 was attributed to ageing trees, widespread diseases, bad weather and low producer prices.
In addition, bush fires in 1983, destroyed more than 60,000 hectares of cocoa farms.
Currently, Ghana is second to Cote d’Ivoire in cocoa production, although it produces the best quality cocoa beans.
However, the about 800,000 cocoa farmers in Ghana, appear to be the most vulnerable to the inequity in the distribution of the returns along the cocoa value chain.
They do not earn enough to support their livelihood and to reinvest in the cocoa production.
Yet much is required of them in turns of increased productivity and improvement in the quality by industry and government.
Successive governments continue to initiate a number of programmes aimed at improving the income levels of cocoa farmers. A case in point is the decision by the government to give cocoa farmers more than 70 per cent of the global price per tonnes of cocoa.
Despite the fact that cocoa production means so much to the economy, the government alone cannot tackle the challenges in the sector.
It is because of this that the government welcomes public and private partnership, especially, in the area of extension services.
The Times, therefore, views the suggestion by the African Cocoa Coalition (ACC) a non governmental organisation, that there should be a special fund to build the capacity of cocoa farmers, improve infrastructure in cocoa growing areas and enhance farmers income, as a proposal in the right direction.
The fund, according to the coalition, should be raised by grinders and manufacturers of chocolate and confectionary because they enjoy the largest returns along the cocoa value chain.
It is a fact that the current status of the global cocoa economy is skewed towards favouring industry when it comes to the benefit in the cocoa chain.
Studies have shown that about one-fourth of all cocoa farmers receive just over half of the total earnings from cocoa.
For the youth to take over from the ageing cocoa farmers, the Times suggests that adequate incentives be provided to prevent them from drifting to the urban centres in search of non-existent jobs.
Cocoa is indeed, Ghana, and Ghana is cocoa.
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