Leaders of the Best Cocoa Farmers Association (BCFA) headed by Charles Gyamfi, the BCFA President, have called on the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to urgently institute a ban on the export of poultry manure produced in Ghana to neighbouring countries within the West Africa region.
According to the Association, their call for a total ban on the exportation of poultry manure has become necessary because the cocoa sector in the country needs the full complement of all the poultry manure produced in the country in order to increase cocoa production and reduce the sector’s dependence on imported chemical fertilizers.
“We want a ban on the export of poultry manure to neighbouring Countries. Currently, there is high export of manure to Cote d’Ivoire in recent times and we think this is not a good sign for our country and our cocoa sector.
“Instead, we want a deliberate effort by government to reduce importation of chemical fertilizers into our operations while at the same time, plans are put in place to support the production of poultry manure and its wide application in cocoa farming. As you are already aware, this type of manure protects the ecosystem and conserve the environment from destruction.”
Charles Gyamfi
Delay in Pension’s Scheme for Cocoa Farmers
Turning his attention to the pension’s scheme of cocoa farmers, Mr Gyamfi noted that the promise of government made to them to establish the scheme seems to be delaying in its full scale roll out.
“Our members keep on asking when they will be enrolled onto the scheme as you promised in December 2020. We will be grateful if you could intervene to see to its full implementation sooner rather than later.”
Charles Gyamfi
About Cocoa roads, the BCFA President pointed out that very soon the rains will set in and the ongoing roads may suffer if government does not complete them. “We suggest that attention is paid to all on-going roads, complete them before new contracts are given. This will ensure value for money” the President of the Association indicated.
President Akufo-Addo in his response to the cocoa farmers noted that he is happy that the farmers have drawn his attention to the issue of export of poultry manure by elements in the nation to neighbouring countries.
President to Address the Concerns of Farmers
The President assured the delegation that together with the caretaker Minister for Agriculture, Hawa Koomson, their concerns will be given the necessary attention it deserves in order to deal with the phenomenon.
The President also noted that the two other concerns they have presented which are the cocoa farmers pension scheme and cocoa roads, will both be given immediate attention.
In their presentation, the BCFA noted that several interventions of the Akufo-Addo administration have helped to improve cocoa farming in the country.
“The Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme for instance, has helped to restore hope, joy and position the country’s cocoa sector on a solid path to recovery after years of continuous devastation caused by the CSSVD. The pruning and hand pollination exercises have also played their part in increasing yields significantly as well as bettering our livelihoods.
“The mass spraying exercise, which was repackaged to become more useful and timeous has helped to control pests and reduced the incidence of the black pod disease whereas the free seedlings project has assisted our members to establish new farms, and fill in vacancies. The irrigation programme is gradually becoming a new concept in our traditional operations and those of us who have the set-up on our farms have seen how useful it has been to boosting yields.”
Charles Gyamfi
The Association noted that cocoa Producer Prices have remained extremely good although we wish more could be done in that light. We commend you for taking all the bold steps to ensure that we get value for our cocoa farming business. “Most importantly, your decision in 2019 not to reduce the price of cocoa when all forces pressured you to reduce. It showed how much you care about farmers,” the President of BCFA added.
The Association made the call when they paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House to register their appreciation to the him for what they said is the numerous support the Akufo-Addo administration has given to cocoa farmers since assuming office in January 2017.
