The delay in the release and distribution of subsidized inputs to cocoa farmers may likely affect Ghana’s cocoa production in the next cocoa season.
Hundreds of cocoa farmers have lost a great proportion of their yield to the black pod disease infection in 2023.
At the 12th Annual General Meeting of Cocoa Abrabopa Association, a farmer-based organization in Ghana, some cocoa farmers fear the country’s cocoa production will further decline if nothing is done to ensure the timely distribution of subsidized farm inputs.
“I have five hectares of cocoa but as I’m speaking now, I can’t even produce one bag of cocoa because of black pod. In my operational area, 350 farmers are all lamenting about black pod infestation. If nothing is done, then government will struggle to get the cocoa it requires”, a Chief Cocoa Farmer at Enchi district, David Chapman lamented.
Council Charmain of the Cocoa Abrabopa Association, Ishmael Pomasi asked Cocobod to step up its effort in sustaining the cocoa industry.
“Even though the farm gate price was significantly raised this year, it is sad to note that majority of cocoa farmers have already lost significant percentage of their yield to the black pod disease infection. You can’t increase the price when there is nothing on the tree. As we speak now, most farmers have already lost significant portions of their cocoa bean through a black pod infestation.
This year, it rained excessively and that introduced the spread of the black pod. All these mass spraying and other interventions that is geared towards enhancing productivity is something that we need to really strengthen it and then do it well. Inputs must be released on time so farmers can access it and start controlling before it becomes bad”, Mr Pomasi advised.
The Association also raised concern about untimely disbursement of seed funds.
This challenge, according to the farmer-based organization, continues to provide fertile grounds for smuggling and diversions of cocoa beans.
“One of the issues that has been systemic with us has to do with late release of the seed fund. The regulator is the one that is supposed to ensure marketing of cocoa in the international market. We need to provide this seed fund to the Licensed Buying Company (LBCs) to disburse the monies to their purchasing clerks, buy cocoa from farmers and make upfront payment to them.
Here is the case this year in particular, we commenced the season one month earlier than the usual October. From September up to this time, we don’t even have one dollar coming from the seed fund and we are losing the cocoa to the International LBCs. This challenge if not addressed with long lasting solutions, will end up collapsing the operations of all the indigenous Licensed Buying Companies,” Mr Pomasi warned.
The meeting afforded the Association the platform to make an account of their stewardship for the year 2022, deliberate on the challenges in the cocoa sector, ways to address it and enhance the livelihood of farmers.