Cocoa farmers
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16th July, 2009
Minister Fears 2011 Cocoa Production Target
THE Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr.Kwabena Duffour, has warned that the country’s quest to increase cocoa production to one million tonnes by 2011 would be a mirage unless the extension services to the sector, are improved.
He said the huge investment in the importation of fertilizer and other inputs for the cocoa “Hi-Tech” programme would be a waste if poor extension services continued to affect cocoa production.
Dr. Duffour expressed the pessimism, in a speech read on his behalf at a stakeholders meeting organised by the Ghana Cocoa Board in Accra yesterday on the new extension system for cocoa farmers under a public-private partnership.
The forum was to afford participants the opportunity to review the current state of extension services being provided the sector to ensure that cocoa extension delivery makes maximum impact on production.
He said cocoa production which had been the backbone of the economy over the years was now facing a huge challenge which needed to be tackled with the seriousness it deserved if the country was to recapture its number one spot in cocoa production.
“Cocoa production has been plagued by diseases and pests since it was introduced by Tetteh Quarshie and we have to overcome these challenges so as to help our farmers benefit from their toil,” he said.
Dr. Duffour explained that the objective of placing the erstwhile Cocoa Services Division under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in 2000 to ensure cost-effective and efficient cocoa services delivery had not been achieved.
He said it was for that reason that government welcome the idea of private participation in extension service delivery to cocoa farmers in order to boost production capacity.
The Minister cited some of the benefits to be gained from the partnership as, speedy and efficient cost delivery of extension services, creation of added value through synergies between public authorities and private sector companies and removal of capacity constraints and bottlenecks in the delivery of extension services.
Dr. Duffour urged the stakeholders to work towards mobilising logistical support to motivate staff to offer their best as well as making maximum use of expertise at the disposal of the Cocobod.
The Chief Executive of Cocobod, Mr. Tony Fofie, said Cocobod was poised to make extensive use of ICT including radio and television, to reach the mass of the country’s hard working cocoa farmers.
That, he said, would be augmented with the use of information vans and multimedia campaign materials such as posters, leaflets and flyers.
He said the huge investment in the importation of fertilizer and other inputs for the cocoa “Hi-Tech” programme would be a waste if poor extension services continued to affect cocoa production.
Dr. Duffour expressed the pessimism, in a speech read on his behalf at a stakeholders meeting organised by the Ghana Cocoa Board in Accra yesterday on the new extension system for cocoa farmers under a public-private partnership.
The forum was to afford participants the opportunity to review the current state of extension services being provided the sector to ensure that cocoa extension delivery makes maximum impact on production.
He said cocoa production which had been the backbone of the economy over the years was now facing a huge challenge which needed to be tackled with the seriousness it deserved if the country was to recapture its number one spot in cocoa production.
“Cocoa production has been plagued by diseases and pests since it was introduced by Tetteh Quarshie and we have to overcome these challenges so as to help our farmers benefit from their toil,” he said.
Dr. Duffour explained that the objective of placing the erstwhile Cocoa Services Division under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in 2000 to ensure cost-effective and efficient cocoa services delivery had not been achieved.
He said it was for that reason that government welcome the idea of private participation in extension service delivery to cocoa farmers in order to boost production capacity.
The Minister cited some of the benefits to be gained from the partnership as, speedy and efficient cost delivery of extension services, creation of added value through synergies between public authorities and private sector companies and removal of capacity constraints and bottlenecks in the delivery of extension services.
Dr. Duffour urged the stakeholders to work towards mobilising logistical support to motivate staff to offer their best as well as making maximum use of expertise at the disposal of the Cocobod.
The Chief Executive of Cocobod, Mr. Tony Fofie, said Cocobod was poised to make extensive use of ICT including radio and television, to reach the mass of the country’s hard working cocoa farmers.
That, he said, would be augmented with the use of information vans and multimedia campaign materials such as posters, leaflets and flyers.
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