The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD has officially re-launched the Free Fertilizer Distribution Programme as part of the government’s commitment to support cocoa farmers to improve farm productivity. The initiative also sought to ease the financial burden of purchasing fertilizer and enhance the livelihoods farmers livelihoods.
Speaking at the launch, at Sefwi-Wiawso, Dr Randy Abbey, Chief Executive Officer COCOBOD, directed CHED officials to leverage technology to register farmers, noting that the move would eliminate favouritism, cut out middle men and ensuring that fertilizers and other agro inputs got directly to cocoa farmers.
He expressed worry about how the cocoa swollen shot disease negatively affected cocoa production in Western North Region from an annual 340,000 metric tonnes to 140,000 metric tonnes.
He assured that COCOBOD was aggressively galvanising massive capital injections from development banks and private sector partners to rehabilitate diseased farms to restore the livelihoods of farmers.
The COCOBOD CEO further announced that Board was working to kick-start the tertiary scholarship for cocoa farmers’ children starting in the 2027/2027 academic year.
Dr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Board Chairman of COCOBOD, urged farmers to ensure that the fertilizers received were properly applied on their farms to improve soil fertility and increase cocoa yields.
He also cautioned against the diversion of the fertilizer, saying enhanced tracking technology had been deployed to monitor distribution from the warehouse to farms to ensure that the intended beneficiaries received the inputs.
Mr Wilbert Petty Brentum, the Western North Regional Minister, said the decision by COCOBOD to relaunch the programme in the region underscored the government continuous commitment to revitalising the cocoa sector in the region, improve productivity, and enhance the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.
He lauded farmers for demonstrating resilience and determination to sustain the cocoa industry despite the negative impacts of the cocoa swollen shot and other diseases on farms.
Mr Brentum further called for the privatisation of the rehabilitation programme in the region, saying the move would help provide the much-needed financial reliefs to farmers.
Nana Ofori Ahenkan II, Chief of Bonzain and Acting President of the Wiawso Traditional Council, who chaired the programme said the dedication of cocoa farmers over the years had significantly helped to boast Ghana cocoa production fortunes.
He emphasised that the free fertilizer distribution would not only secure the future of Ghana cocoa sector, but ultimately improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their households.
He urged cocoa farmers to take full advantage of the programme and use it for the intended purpose, and adhere to recommendations and applications to achieve the best results.
Some farmers in an interview with the Ghana News Agency lauded government and COCOBOD for the initiative saying it would help improve yields.
They also welcomed the decision by COCOBOD to begin scholarship for their children in the next academic year, saying it would ease the financial burden on them.
GNA