Organic cocoa farmers receive production premium

Farmers who cultivate their cocoa in an organic farming system have being awarded in Akyem Asuom in the Eastern Region. An amount over Seven thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC 7,000.00) was distributed to thirty-one farmers as cocoa premium commonly refer by the farmers as “bonus” by Serendipalm Company Limited.

The amount was presented to the beneficiary farmers at a grand durbar in Akyem Asuom as an incentive for their effort towards sustainable cocoa production in respect to conservation of biodiversity.

The Internal Control System Manager of Serendipalm, Christian Obeng Boahen expressed the company’s commitment towards sustainable agriculture in Ghana and the improvement of the living standard of the rural farmers both socially and economically.

“We hope to improve the living standard of the farmers through our operations in the Kwaebibirem municipality. It is by this effort that we introduce methods that are sustainable and have the potentials to help communities socially and economically”, He echoed.

According to him, the company is poised to train and source high quality cocoa beans from the farmers on the company’s registered list. He urged other farmers in the community to be part of this programme as a collective effort as a key towards self-empowerment and sustainability.

He mentioned that the objective of the company is in line with the government policies to revamp the cocoa sector and sustain its contribution to the economy of Ghana, impart farmer lives and support the sustainable development goal of the UN.

Maame Samah Efua Arkaifie, the Fair-Trade and Agriculture Support Manager of Serendipalm appreciated the cocoa farmers for their commitment. She commended them for adhering to the participatory training methods on organic and regenerative agriculture given to them by Serendipalm Ltd to produce good quality cocoa beans for the chocolate industries out the country.

“Your commitment has imparted greatly through an increase in crop productivity and higher income to your various home. “These is an achievement we must all be proud of as the future generation would appreciate our current effort”, she reiterated. In an interview with Agric Today Media, Maame Arkaifie said the programme is focus on building the capacity of the registered farmers to manage and operate their farms as business and grow an entrepreneurial spirit of their farms. The programme is also expected to benefit over three thousand (3,000.00) farmers in the area and aid in various community development as it expands.

In responds, the farmers expressed their gratitude to the company for their support since they came to the community and promised to adhere to the good practices the company has vouchsafed to them.

“We are happy for this kind gesture from the company and we believe that adhering to such practices in the management of our cocoa farms would potentially liberate us from the current economic constraints”, – Farmer Kofi Ayebi of Akyem Bomso said.

The function was graced by many dignitaries including the management of Serendipalm, traditional authorities from the catchment areas, directors from the Department of Agriculture in the Kwaebibirem Municipality, workers, farmers and community members.