The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has signed a Declaration of Intent with Apex Brazil and the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. This agreement paves the way for deeper bilateral cooperation, fostering technical and economic partnerships to drive sustainability and innovation in the cocoa sector.

The signing ceremony took place at Cocoa House in Accra as part of a high-level visit by a Brazilian Presidential Mission to Africa. The Brazilian delegation, led by Her Excellency Marirana Madeira, Ambassador of Brazil to Ghana, engaged COCOBOD’s Acting Chief Executive and his management team in discussions on leveraging Brazilian agricultural expertise to enhance cocoa productivity in Ghana.

Strengthening Research and Innovation

A major highlight of the discussions was the exchange of best practices in cocoa disease management, research collaboration, and technological advancements. Brazil’s experience in combating Witches’ Broom disease was recognized as a potential learning opportunity for Ghana, which continues to battle the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD). Scientific cooperation between the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) and Brazilian research institutions will also focus on improving cocoa flavor analysis and quality enhancement.

A United Front in the Global Cocoa Economy

The meeting underscored the need for greater collaboration among the world’s five largest cocoa producers—Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Brazil, Nigeria, and Ecuador—to address pricing dynamics and ensure better farmer incomes. The Brazilian delegation also expressed keen interest in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire’s Living Income Differential (LID) of $400 per tonne, a pricing model designed to secure fair earnings for cocoa farmers.

A Step Towards Sustainable Cocoa Farming

With the signing of the Declaration of Intent, COCOBOD, Apex Brasil, and the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock have solidified their commitment to advancing the cocoa industry through technology, research, and economic cooperation. This partnership marks a significant step towards sustainable cocoa farming, ensuring long-term benefits for farmers and the cocoa value chain in both countries.

This renewed collaboration between Ghana and Brazil is expected to unlock new opportunities, drive innovation, and position both nations as key players in the global cocoa market.

Source : 3news.com