President John Mahama has said government remained committed to supporting the Youth in Cocoa Programme to reverse the dominance of the aged in cocoa farming and provide avenues for youth to engage in a lucrative enterprise.
He said over 30, 000 young people were actively engaged in the programme, which is being implemented by the Ghana Cocoa Board.
In a speech read on his behalf at the Inaugural Meeting of the World Cocoa Farmers Organization (WCFO) in Accra, President Mahama said the success of these interventions depended on the close collaboration between all stakeholders.
It was on the theme: “Creating a Uniform Voice for Cocoa Farmers for Improved and a Sustainable World Cocoa Sector”.
He commended the farmers for coming together and promoting the sustainability of the global cocoa economy.
Government, he said, had initiated programmes such as Cocoa Mass spraying and fertilizer distribution exercise; distribution of hybrid seed for new farms; rehabilitation and replanting of over aged cocoa farms at no cost to farmers; and the elimination of worst forms of child labour in the sector; as well as improving the road network and quality of life.
According to him, while individual countries including Ghana were striving to pay cocoa farmers their fair share of Free on Board (FOB), sight should not be lost of the fact that further price increases to farmers was dependent on a favourable world market price.
“Since the introduction of cocoa in the 19th Century, cocoa farming has dominated the Ghanaian economy with almost three percent share of Gross Domestic Product, employing a million farm families and providing a source of livelihood for millions of Ghanaians,” President Mahama said.
“Government has consistently increased producer price of cocoa in spite of the fluctuating world market prices. For 2014-15 cocoa seasons, the producer price per tonne was increased from GHc3, 392 to Ghc 5, 520,” he said.
Apart from this, during the 2015- 2016 cocoa season that just begun, the producer price was further increased to Ghc6, 800 which is inclusive of a bonus of Ghc8.00 per tonne.
Scholarship schemes offered to cocoa farmers’ wards in second cycle schools has since 2014-2015 seasons, been increased from 7,500 to a total of 11,200.
President Mahama expressed the hope that the organisation will become a strong lobbyist group to ensure equitable distribution of the benefit that accrue from activities along the cocoa value chain to help sustain farmers interest in cocoa production.
