The Member of Parliament of Ahafo-Ano South, Mr Kwame Owusu Frimpong has stated that the establishment of cocoa plantations was the surest way of sustaining the industry and making Ghana catch up with her competitors.
He said the establishment of plantations would not only replace the dying small holding cocoa farmers but it would also retain the ecosystem and offer employment to the people and generate funds for the economy.
Mr. Frimpong stated these in a statement issued in Parliament on Friday on "the Cocoa Plantations - Effective Tool for accelerated and sustainable cocoa industry'.
He said the diverse means of resuscitating the cocoa industry through pest and disease control, planting of hybrid and early maturing cocoa seedlings and many other measures are all commendable but the ultimate method was the adoption of cocoa plantations.
Mr Frimpong said it was through all these characteristics that has put Cote d' Ivoire about 100 per cent ahead of Ghana and suggested establishment of aggressive cocoa plantations since the cocoa farmlands were basically smallholdings and family owned in Ghana.
He said since Ghana needs to move forward with her cocoa production, government should step in to agree mutually with communities in the cocoa producing areas of the Eastern, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions where the ecosystem could still sustain cocoa farmers to acquire large tracks of lands.
Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence and acting Minister of the Interior said the security agencies were currently engaged in an intense anti-smuggling exercise at the country's borders to help check the spate of cocoa smuggling to neighbouring countries.
He noted that anti-smuggling activities should not be left with the security agencies alone and urged traditional rulers to team up to ensure that the rate of smuggling as brought to a minimum level.
Dr Addo-Kufuor said the situation along the borders, especially the road networks induce smuggling as well as the activities of purchasing clerks, who tend to cheat the farmers of their hard-earned produce.
Mr George Isaac Amoo, NPP-Ayawaso West- Wuogon said every educated person has benefited directly or indirectly from cocoa farmers but it was unfortunate that the farmers who were wealthy in the past have seen their wealth decline due to poor harvests.
Mr Kwabena Adusa Okerchiri, NPP- Nkwakwa said the traditional method of farming should shift to a more scientific plantation development programme to enhance and boost the production of more cocoa beans.
Ms Hawa Yakubu, NPP-Bawku Central said her concern was basically about the plight of the labourers, who work on the cocoa farms and are often denied the benefits of the farms.
She said the peace and stability of the country should be an opportunity for the revamping of the cocoa and for recognition of the contributions of the settler farmers whose contributions could not be ignored.
Mr Charles Omar Nyanor, NPP- Upper Denkyira said cocoa farmers have over the years been over-taxed as compared to civil and public servants and urged the scientists to explain whether cocoa plantations would be more beneficial than smallholder farms.
Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister said some of the soils for cocoa production were marginalized, especially in the region that are not suitable for establishment of commercial farms.
He said since some of the soils are not fertile enough to produce maximum crop population, there was the need for cocoa plantation to be established on private basis to make the maximum profit and ensure adequate results.
Alhaji Malik Al-hassan Yakubu, NPP-Yendi said the structural adjustment programme of the Ghana Cocoa Board had been the cause of the decline of cocoa production in the country.
He said there was therefore, the need for the a critical look to be taken of the policies which were dumped on the cocoa industry, renew the relationship between farmers and the staff and to re-establish the subsidies to make farmers manage their farms.
Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, said her main concern was the fate of children who are normally engaged to work on cocoa farms and denied the acquisition of basic education, adding that the ministry was putting in place measures to address the situation.
Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry explained that Ghana was one country that did not use child labour on her cocoa farms.
He said even though the idea of establishment of plantation was good, it has its problems, which include the spread of diseases and the disruption of the ecosystem. He said the solution should be how to increase yield per acre and to guide farmers on production and incentive packages.
Mr Emmanuel Adjei Boye, NPP- Krowor said the issue of land tenure system was a general problem in agricultural development that needed to be tackled if agricultural production was to improve.
