Govt Committed To Paying Remunerative Prices To Cocoa Farmers

The Minister for Finance, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo yesterday said government is committed and resolved to continue to pay remunerative prices and bonuses to cocoa farmers commensurate with prices on the world cocoa market.

He, therefore, urged cocoa farmers to take advantage of the incentives provided to revamp their old farms.

Mr Osafo-Maafo said this in Parliament when Mr Kwame Owusu Frimpong, NPP- Ahafo Ano North asked the Minister what plans he has to revamp the cocoa industry in Ahafo Ano North, particularly in Akwasiase, Mamfo, Dwaho, Asuhyiae and other communities that have large stretches of good soils for coca production.

The Minister gave the assurance that government through the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) would always be forthcoming to revamp the cocoa industry not only in the Ahafo Ano North district but the entire cocoa producing areas.

Mr Osafo-Maafo said a pilot project was undertaken this year by government that involved the application of "High Tech" in cocoa farms in 41 selected districts nation-wide including the Ahafo Ano district.

He said COCOBOD has a broad policy that seeks to revamp cocoa production in all areas suitable for cocoa by encouraging the rehabilitation and replanting of old and abandoned farms.

In this regard, farmers are encouraged to carry general sanitation on their farms, fill vacancies where necessary and spray against diseases and pests and it is in this respect that for the past three years, government has carried out a nation-wide mass spraying exercise.

Mr Osafo-Maafo said farmers who are desirous of revamping their farms would therefore be encouraged to do so but emphasized that such farms meant for rehabilitation should preferably be within the age class of not more than thirty years. He said when the farms are more than thirty years old and in poor condition, complete cutting-out and replanting is recommended.

The Minister said in all cases, cocoa extension advice can be sought from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture extension services while additionally, COCOBOD through the Seed Production Unit provides technical advice on the management of the farms and supply of planting materials in the form of hybrid seed pods and seedlings.

Mr Osafo-Maafo said through these policy measures cocoa production in Tepa, the district capital of Ahafo Ano North has seen remarkable improvement in recent years with an increasing production figure of 2,165 tonnes in 2000/01, 4,243 tonnes in 2001/2 up to 7,444 tonnes in 2002/2003.