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Why the govt, private sector must invest in agribusiness – Experts.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and its partners have emphasised the need for the government and private sector to collaborate and invest in agribusiness in order to attract more youths into the sector.

This was the submission at the Agribusiness Investors Network organised by the Innovative Youth in Agriculture (I-Youth) recently in Lagos. The event was put together by IITA in partnership with Mastercard Foundation and Ecobank.

In attendance were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and representatives of African Development Bank, Lagos State government, among others.

Ken Dashiell, deputy director, general partnership for partnership and delivery, IITA, said it has become imperative for stakeholders to work together to empower the youth in transforming Nigeria’s food system.

Dashiell said the government and other developmental partners must begin to put the right policies and programmes in place to attract the youth into agriculture.

Former President Obasanjo, who is an ambassador of IITA, said that a concerted effort must be made to ensure that the funding gap in agribusiness is bridged, adding that financial institutions, investors and entrepreneurs must collaborate.

Obasanjo noted that the sector must be attractive for the youth, saying no serious entrepreneur would be interested in seeking a double-digit loan.

He explained that the agricultural sector had suffered for too long due to the lack of commitment to industry development and inadequate funding from the government as well as uncertainty from potential investors and other key stakeholders.

He stressed the need for government to invest heavily in the agricultural sector, noting that no nation has witnessed reasonable industrial development without paying adequate attention to agriculture.

Also speaking, Bolaji Lawal, managing director and regional executive of Ecobank Nigeria, stated the commitment of the bank to support any investment that will stimulate the growth of Nigeria’s economy and transform the opportunities in Nigeria into business and empowerment for the youth.

Areo Evelyn, the CEO of Farm2Fill Enterprises and beneficiary of the I-Youth project, stated that participating in IITA’s training programme impacted her entrepreneurial journey as she now offers a variety of agricultural produce to local and international markets.

Aline Mugisho, the executive manager, I-Youth Project, who spoke on ‘De-risking agro-industry investment,’ emphasised the need for stakeholders to work together to, demystify the agricultural sector’s myth around profitability, sustainability, and growth.

Mugisho said that youths were catalysts in agriculture technology and innovation scaling, and when empowered with skills and expertise, they become invaluable assets to companies.

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Call for Applications: African Climate Innovation Challenge 2023

Applications are now available for African Climate Innovation Challenge to empower young Africans to create impact in their local communities by solving sustainability challenges through entrepreneurship and innovation.

Applications are now available for African Climate Innovation Challenge to empower young Africans to create impact in their local communities by solving sustainability challenges through entrepreneurship and innovation.

The African Climate Innovation Challenge (ACIC) which is jointly developed and implemented by 3 E’s 4 Africa, Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) and StartUp Lounge Africa is a project which intends to focus on the innovative minds and projects of young Africans and encourage and empower them to create a local impact in their communities. It is an idea contest which challenges young Africans to come up with innovative, green ideas and helps them to develop them into real solutions.  Young Africans apply with ideas for solving environmental problems with an entrepreneurial mindset.

The best 10 concepts are selected as the ACIC Cohort. They will go through an online curriculum, consisting of training and digital workshops, as well as P2P sessions between mentors and participants. This gives teams the opportunity to work on and develop their ideas further. Topics covered include environmental protection, climate change, social engagement, digital literacy, project management and business creation/management.

The top 5 projects will be invited to the African Climate Week in Nairobi as finalists where the pitch event will take place. After the pitch event, the jury will select the 3 winners. Each winner will receive a considerable prize money dedicated to support them in the direct implementation of their idea in the community.

Objectives
  • Empower youth and local communities in Africa by providing them not only with entrepreneurship skills, but also with the tools and knowledge they need to create local impact.
  • Help African communities build resilience and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change locally.
  • Addressing and solving sustainability-related challenges through entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa.
Benefits
  • Up to USD15,000 in prize money for the three winning teams to directly implement their innovative start-up ideas in their communities.
  • Tailor made curriculum as well as dedicated Peer-to-peer mentorship for all participants to further develop their start-up ideas.
  • 3 months incubation for all 10 selected teams to move past the ideation stage and turn their ideas into reality.
  • Pitch your project during the African Climate Summit co-hosted by the Republic of Kenya and the African Union Commission (AUC) in Nairobi.
Eligibility Criteria
  • Before applying, make sure your team and yourself are willing and able to commit to the program of the ACIC
  • You should be a team of 2 – 6 people. Applications from teams with less than 2 people and more than 6 people will not be considered
  • Although not required, they specifically want to encourage female-led teams and teams with 40% – 50% female participants
  • All the members of your team must be of African descent and based in Africa
  • Existing and officially registered start-ups will not be considered
  • The idea you are applying with must be centered around climate change mitigation and/or climate change adaptation
  • All members of your team must be between 18 and 35 years old
  • All members of the team must have a good mastery of the English language.

For more information, visit 3 E’s 4 Africa (3E4A).

Deadline: 29-Jun-23

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Ghana needs innovative solutions to unlock agricultural potential – GIRSAL CEO

Ghana’s agribusiness sector still faces significant challenges, according to Kwesi Korboe, the Chief Executive Officer of GIRSAL.

Contributing to a panel discussion on the Citi Business Festival on Tuesday, June 27, Mr Korboe said while progress has been made, there is still a long way to go to fully unlock the potential of agriculture in the country.

Mr Korboe emphasized that the agriculture sector in Ghana is in need of innovative solutions and increased investment to improve productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.

Access to modern farming techniques, advanced machinery, and quality inputs such as fertilizers and seeds is crucial for the growth of agribusiness in Ghana.

Another major challenge Mr Korboe highlighted is access to land for farming by the private sector. He added that insufficient road networks and limited access to markets make it difficult for people to invest in the agricultural sector.

Furthermore, Mr Korboe added that access to finance remains a significant hurdle for many small-scale farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs. Limited access to credit, high-interest rates restrict the ability of farmers to invest in their operations, expand their businesses, and adopt modern technologies.

Korboe also highlighted the need for effective policies and supportive government interventions to promote agribusiness development. This includes policies that prioritize agricultural research and development, provide incentives for private-sector investments, and create an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector.

Despite these challenges, Mr Korboe acknowledged the immense potential of Ghana’s agricultural sector.

The country, he said has favourable climatic conditions, fertile land, and a rich biodiversity that can support diverse agricultural activities. With the right investments, infrastructure development, and policy support, Ghana can harness its agricultural resources to drive economic growth, create employment opportunities, and ensure food security for its population.

Tuesday’s forum was under the theme ‘Understanding and leveraging Agribusiness Value Chain’.

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High cost of local food is a sign of failure of agricultural policies – IEA’s Kwakye

The Director of Research at the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Dr John Kwakye has said that the increasing cost of food in Ghana is due to the failure of agriculture policies.

He said managers of the economy should be held liable for the increasing cost of food.

“The exorbitant cost of local food is a sign of failure of agricultural policy. Our economic managers should be held accountable,” Dr Kwakye tweeted.

His comments come on the back of the marginal increment in the inflation rate which went up to 42.2% in May from 41.2 % recorded in April 2023 as food prices soared.

Annual price growth quickened to 42.2% from 41.2% in April.

Food inflation witnessed a sharp rise to 51.8% last month from 48.7% in April and non-food price growth decelerated to 34.6% from 35.4%.

Government Statistician Samuel Kobina Annim gave these updates in Kumasi on Wednesday, June 14

He indicated that prices rose 4.8% in the month with the Western North and Ashanti recording the highest and lowest inflation rates respectively.

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Ghana’s honey has the greatest potential to boost the local economy – Kadjebi DCE.

Honey produced in Ghana has the greatest potential to boost the growth of the local economy, according to the District Chief Executive of Kadjebi, Mr Wilson Agbanyo.

He made the comments during a special launch of the Community Apiaries project under the theme; ‘Make Ghana honey fit for export’, held in Pampawie in the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region.

Mr Wilson noted that apart from the huge nutritional value of honey, it could generate a lot of foreign exchange for the country if the international standard of its production is followed.

The event organized under the auspices of Volta Region Association of Beekeepers with support from Quality Services International GMbH, Germany(QSI) was aimed at making honey produced in Ghana fit for premium grade assurance for both local use and export.

He noted that there are other enormous benefits derived from honey in drugs production in the pharmaceutical industry. 

Mr Wilson, however, appealed to the young ones especially the unemployed to develop a keen interest in the bee-keeping business and take advantage of any future opportunity to get enrolled in the business.

He also urged the traditional authorities to release farm lands to facilitate and promote the bee- keeping business.

Chief Executive of the Volta Region Association of Beekeepers (VoRAB), Mr. Devine Oquaye Odonkor, noted that there have been plans to have the bee-keeping business domesticated, confined and controlled as Ghana’s policy agenda since the 1960s.

With this concept of ‘Make Ghana honey fit for export’ project, there would be vigilance at community level on production and processing to ensure that no contaminated or intentionally adulterated honey finds its way out of the communities onto our local and international markets,” Mr Divine Oquaye Odonkor said.

 He noted that bee-keepers work under numerous challenges to ensure that there is quality and sufficient honey at all times.

He noted that the quest is to have as many as possible self-motivated and dedicated entrepreneurs in the bee-keeping value chain to produce quality honey in the country that would meet international standard.

The government therefore was committed to collaborate with the Rural Enterprise Programme (REP) through the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) of the Assembly to train and support interested youth with start-up kits to engage in bee-keeping in the District.

Nana Gyataba Atiemo Darko, Tufuhene of Amanta State and Okrakrom chief who chaired the function thanked the organizers for launching the programme at  Pampawie assuring them of their full support in making bee-keeping in the area very lucrative.

Manager of the Volta Regional Forestry Commission, Torde Gershom Amaglo, called on the youth to eschew their mindset that that the bee-keeping business is not lucrative, adding that if they adhere to the standards they can make a lot of money.

In his remarks, Mr Arne Dubecke, Head of Project, Quality Services International GmbH, Germany, assured that he would continue to partner VoRAB and other stakeholders in making sure that honey produced in Ghana meets international standard.

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Jihadis selling stolen cattle in Ghana

Jihadis operating in the West African sub-region are now resorting to crossing over into Ghana with looted animals for sale.

According to officials in the West African nation, owners of these stolen animals oftentimes trace their cattle to local markets in the north of the country.

One of the popular destinations for the animals is the cattle market in Navrongo, near Ghana’s border with Burkina Faso. 

“Some of the cattle here are rustled and brought to the market for sale, but we won’t know,” Kwesi Adumbila, a well-known cattle dealer in the market, told DW. 

“Others even cross the borders with the cattle to sell in Ghana. Those who cross the borders have their agents, who they meet in the bush for exchange.”

The number of market destinations for these stolen cattle are fast increasing, according to Rev. Fr. Clement Aapengnuo, who works with COGINTA, an EU-supported community peace building NGO.

“When you look at the cattle markets that are coming up especially near border towns — I hear a market has just come up in Banda Nkwanta,” Aapengnuo told DW, referring to a town in the center of Ghana.

The rustled cattle attract buyers because of their low sale prices at the markets, according to Aapengnou.

“So, you go there, there are a lot of cattle that they are selling, and people are enjoying, they think this is cheap cattle we can buy and do ABCD, but they don’t realize that by buying those cattle they are financing terrorism,” he said. 

Withdrawal zone for armed groups

A study by Promediation, a French NGO of mediation and negotiation experts, concluded that Ghana’s proximity to the Cascades region of neighboring Burkina Faso, as well as Ivory Coast, makes northern Ghana an ideal cross-border withdrawal and control zone for armed groups.

Some of them run into Ghana for refuge, but their activities are mostly linked to arms, drugs, consumer products and cattle rustling.  

They use the money to buy small arms to restock and then to go back to fight,” Aapengnuo said. “So, this also feeds into the idea that one of the reasons why Ghana has not been attacked is that Ghana is a refuge for the terrorists.”

“The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized crime in its recent report on cattle rustling and Mali’s war economy revealed that even looted cattle from Mali are reaching markets in Ghana and other West African nations.

“Cattle rustling cannot be dissociated from instability and conflict dynamics. In fact, it is a strong predicator of instability, as it marks the escalation of conflict and highlights strategies of armed groups and their levels of influence or control over specific areas,” the report said.

It added, “as armed groups move towards new territories further south, and towards coastal West African countries, cattle rustling could be a marker of future conflict areas as well as of locations where armed groups need resources.”

Tightening border security

Ghana’s security forces have moved in to tackle the issue by setting up camps in areas close to its northern borders with Burkina Faso, Togo and Ivory Coast.

They want to control a possible spillover of terrorism, but it is hard to control illicit movement of animals into Ghana due to porous border controls. 

Awal Ahmed Kariam, a security analyst whose organization RISE Ghana has been advocating for border security over the years, told DW that the accommodative posture of some Ghanaians is allowing crime to foster and gain grounds.

“We have a culture of highly accommodative nature of our people,” he said.

“So, we have people coming from different jurisdictions, we basically do not question them. Some of these people may be violent extremists; however, they are also locals who engage in cattle rustling.”

The Global Initiative has recommended that cattle rustling assessments should be “used in early-warning stabilization operations, as is the case with other types of organized crime.”

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World Bank Supports Ghana to Modernize and Diversify its Tree Crops Sector to Accelerate Productivity, Resilience, and Industrialization

World Bank on glass building. Mirrored sky and city modern facade. Global capital, business, finance, economy, banking and money concept 3D rendering animation.

The Government of Ghana today received approval of $200 million financing from the International Development Association (IDA)* for the Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project (TCDP) to diversify and grow its economy through modernizing agriculture to accelerate productivity, resilience, and industrialization. This financing will directly benefit 12,800 cocoa farmers and 39,975 cashew, coconut, and rubber farmers, and their households. An additional 20,000 jobs are expected to be created in downstream value addition by mobilizing private capital. Nearly 40 percent of on-farm beneficiaries will be women.

While Ghana’s tree crops sector plays an enormous role in agriculture and the economy, the sector can contribute more substantially to Ghana’s economy and society than it currently does, including job creation, export revenue generation, and poverty reduction of the country’s poorest people. Cocoa, cashew, coconut, and rubber segments employ some 728,000, 100,000, 10,364, and 4,322 farmers respectively. Challenges limiting the development of the sector include low and stagnant productivity, weak institutional capacity, poor sector governance, and poor climate resilience due to weak adoption of climate smart agriculture technologies and practices. There is little value addition and weak coordination between actors of the tree crops value chains. There is also lack of connectivity between farmers and improved inputs and services providers, and vulnerability to pests and diseases. In addition, deforestation, child labor, and the persistence of gender inequities in these agricultural subsectors are of concern.

“The World Bank is pleased to support Ghana’s medium-term national development strategy  through the Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project and directly contribute to the Government of Ghana’s priorities for economic and social development in the Coordinated Program of Economic and Social Development Policies, for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economy,” said Pierre Laporte, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone “The project will support private investments in  Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in cocoa, cashew, and coconut value chains and in cashew and coconut processing units.”

The TCDP will support demand driven research and enhance on-farm productivity and resilience to improve the productivity, profitability, and climate resilience in the cocoa, cashew, coconut, and rubber value chains. The project will support post-harvest management, value addition, and market access. It will support the deployment of public resources to crowd-in private sector investments in the sector where possible, accelerating economic transformation and developing critical agricultural value chains. The project will strengthen farmer-based organizations as well as the institutional capacity of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) and improve sector governance for competitive and sustainable development of tree crops. It will improve value chain governance through traceability in tree crops and other investments, technical assistance, and other programmatic support to reform the sector. The project includes a child labor sub-component to identify and mitigate child labor risks in project communities.

“The project will focus on closing gender gaps in the tree crops sector by increasing the ability of women to obtain productive resources and increase incomes through tailored access to inputs, advice, and financial services”, said Ashwini Sebastian, Senior Agric Economist and Task Team Leader for TCDP. “Beneficiaries will be in 11 districts in 6 regions (Western North, Eastern, Savanna, Bono, Bono East, Eastern). Roughly 185 SMEs in cocoa, cashew, and coconut value addition and processing will also be direct beneficiaries through project matching grants, technical assistance support, and access to markets and services. Of these, at least 60 percent will be female owned SMEs”

The TCDA will house a Project Coordination Unit, while COCOBOD will house a Project Implementation Unit. The project will support institutional capacity for both entities and monitor coordination of project activities closely.

*The International Development Association (IDA) is the World Bank institution that provides aid to the world’s poorest countries. It was established in 1960 and provides grants and low- to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve the lives of poor people. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 76 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to 1.6 billion people. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $21 billion over the last three years, with about 61% going to Africa.

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Akweteykrom cocoa community receives over 3 unit classroom block and auxiliary facility from ICI.

The International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), as part of its efforts to ensure that pupils get a serene and conducive environment to learn in cocoa-growing communities in West Africa, has handed over a 3 unit classroom block and auxiliary being city to Akweteykrom Basic  School in the Assin South district of the Central Region of Ghana.

The objective of the project is to enable children in Akwateykrom, a cocoa-growing community to have access to proper infrastructure for teaching and learning activities as a way to encourage more children to attend school and increase enrollment at the basic level instead of been seen on their parents cocoa farms.

Target

The 3 unit classroom block and the auxiliary facility are for the children in Akwateykrom, a cocoa-growing community in the Assin South District where ICI is working assiduously to eliminate issues of child labour and forced labour in the community.

Handing over

Speaking at a ceremony to hand over the project to the community, Deputy Country Director & Programmeliminateor for the International Cocoa Initiative, Mr. Prince Gyamfi explained that the organization focuses on addressing issues of child labour in cocoa growing communities in West Africa.

 “Our vision is of thriving cocoa-growing communities within a dignified, sustainable and responsibly managed cocoa supply chain, where child rights and human rights are protected and respected, and where child labour and forced labour have been eliminated.

“We know that as a nonprofit organization we have prioritized issues of child labour and forced labour; they are our number one priority.

“The problems that bedevil our educational infrastructure in cocoa growing communities are numerous and so despite the enormous prioritization that we as an NGO have put on education, each time we come and inaugurate a project like this, I am very excited about it and we will continue to provide the necessary assistance for our young ones to have good and quality education.

“I have a strong belief that education is the only way to prepare a better future for the next generation of the community.

“Nananom, we are handing over a 3 unit classroom block and Auxiliary facility, a mechanized borehole and a 4-seater WC toilet to you on behalf of the whole community; Please make sure you maintain and take good care of this newly built classroom block” he said.

The District Chief Executive Officer for Assin South, Hon. Felicia Ntrakwah Amissah in a speech read on her behalf said the community has benefitted tremendously from the International Cocoa Initiative as far as projects are concerned.

“It is undeniable fact that our Assembly cannot do it alone and will therefore require the support of other development partners.

“The Assembly and the community are therefore grateful that this project has seen the light of the day.

“I entreat all to help maintain this structure so that it will be able to serve us for a long time” she said.

Head of Sustainability and Communications for Toms Group Foundation, Lea Holm said critical aspects of their corporate social responsibility are located at the beginning of the cocoa value chain which is production.

“We must protect and ensure sustainable use of earth’s resources and act with respect for human rights along our cocoa supply chain, ensuring responsible procurement practices.

“As an organization we are focusing on two main areas namely; eradication of deforestation and protection of children’s rights within cocoa growing communities.

“Even though the Toms Group Foundation has been working with ICI for a very long time; this is the first time we are collaborating to provide such an important school structure with auxiliary facility for teaching and learning activities.

“I believe that the building alone is not enough and for us at Toms Group Foundation we think we need to do more by helping provide books, pens, pencils and other equipment like sportswears for the children because children issues are on my heart and I trust that initiatives like this will help farmers produce better cocoa.

“I want to thank ICI and their leadership for helping provide this community with this beautiful school block and auxiliary facility” she said.  

Appreciation

The Gasehene of Akweteykrom, Mr. Richard Nartey and residents thanked ICI and Toms Group Foundation for providing the community with a beautiful 3 unit classroom block, a mechanized borehole and a 4-seater WC toilet.

We were grateful to ICI for coming into the community and also bringing in their partner the Toms Group Foundation to support our children and their educational needs.

Present at the handing over ceremony were Richard Ansah Amoof (District Coordinating Director for Assin South), Nyonkopa Cocoa Buying Ltd, Assembly Member for Akweteykrom, Heads of Departments and Units, Teachers, Pupils and some cocoa farmers in the communities took part in the handing over ceremony.

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Rainforest Alliance donates school materials to commemorate the 2023 World Day against Child Labour

In celebration of the 2023 World Day Against Child Labour, Rainforest Alliance, A Non-Governmental Organisation with support from the NORAD funded project made presentations to two community basic schools.

The event attracted participants from various organizations and stakeholders across the country to the Ntowkrom district of the Ayensuano District in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Child labour describes the exploitation of children’s rights, mostly deprived of their childhood, their potential and their dignity. The nature of the work they do can be physically, mentally and socially damaging to them and often interferes with their schooling.

This results in a cycle of poverty which affects the community at large.

The World Day Against Child Labour is commemorated around the world on June 12 each year. The global theme for this year’s commemoration is “Protecting Children Against Labour Now More Than Ever” and the domesticated national theme is “Intensify Action Against Child Labour; Do it fast, Do it now”, as a way of emphasizing the urgency of the need for stakeholders to intensify their efforts at addressing the situation.

This year’s celebration was organized by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR) with support from a number of development partners including Rainforest Alliance.

The commemoration also served as a platform for the Ministry to launch the Ghana Accelerated Action Plan Against Child Labour (NPA3). The Action Plan is a document to guide all stakeholders to align their resources, expertise, and interventions with the government through the Child Labour Unit of the MELR to make joint effort towards eradication of child labour effective and nationally visible from now till 2027.

Speaking in an interview, Senior Project Manager at Rainforest Alliance, Joyce Poku-Marboah explained that Rainforest Alliance shares the same vision with the world where nature and humans thrive in harmony and takes the interest of farmers and their household seriously, including working towards eliminating child labour and other human rights abuses through its certification program and other donor-funded projects.

“There couldn’t be a better time to adopt a national localized theme like Intensify Action Against Child Labour; Do it Now! Do it Fast! than now.

“It is the moral duty of parents, guardian, the citizenry, government, CSOs and companies in the relevant supply chains to ensure that every child has the opportunity to enjoy their childhood and build a better future.”

“Experiences gained through the implementation of Rainforest Alliances certification as well as projects such as the NORAD funded “Tackling Forced and Child Labour in Ghanaian Cocoa and Gold Mining” project, over the last couple of years, show that through stakeholder collaboration, and continuous improvement where farmers are advised to expose and report such abuses, the results are eminent.

“As part of our efforts to curb child labour which prevents children from going to school and school girls from staying in school when it’s ‘that time’ of the month for them, Rainforest Alliance with support from the NORAD funded project made presentations to two community basic schools.

This was done in two separate commemorations at the district and national levels; the two schools were Coaltar Basic Presby School in the Ayensuano district and the Ankaase Community Basic School in the Atewa East District.

The two basic schools were presented with 2000 exercise books, 400 notebooks, 400 mathematical sets, 2000 pens, 150 white board markers, 500 pieces of rulers, 1000 erasers, 1000 packs of crayons and 500 sanitary pads.

The items were presented by the Member of Parliament, Honourable Teddy Safori Addi and Senior Project Manager at Rainforest Alliance, Joyce Poku-Marboah in the presence of all stakeholders to the Coaltar School; whiles Alvin Adu Asare, Senior Associate, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, Rainforest Alliance presented to the Ankaase Basic School in the presence of the District Assembly representatives, chiefs, opinion leaders and Edmark Foundation an NGO in the community” she said.

The country Director of Rainforest Alliance, Kwame Osei Boateng disclosed in an exclusive interview that Rainforest Alliance continues to use several pathways as part of its efforts to tackling child labour and other human right abuses in the country.

“We will continue to raise awareness and support small-scale farmers through certification and other donor funded projects”.

Present at the day’s event were Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations Hon. Bright Wereko Brobbey who represented the Minister, the Eastern Regional Minister, the District Chief Executives, traditional leaders, Member of Parliament for the area, International Agencies, Civil Society Organisations, and schools in the community.

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Cocoa farmers threaten to sell farms for galamsey if govt doesn’t increase price.

Cocoa farmers in the Prestea-Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region have cautioned the government to immediately increase the price of cocoa, or they will continue to sell their cocoa farms for galamsey activities.

The farmers, who spoke to Citi News in Damang, said the current cocoa price is a disincentive to farming, and that the government’s withdrawal of free cocoa farm inputs has made it difficult for them to purchase adequate inputs for their farms. They said they are now reliant on major mining companies like Gold Fields Ghana to provide them with free farm inputs.

The Western Region is gradually losing its position as a major cocoa-producing region due to the intensification of illegal small-scale gold mining activities.

The region’s new status as a hub for galamsey activities is threatening the growth of the cocoa industry, as many farmers find the cocoa business unattractive due to the low price of cocoa compared to selling their cocoa farms to galamsey operators.

Farmers from the Damang Cocoa District in the galamsey-endemic area of Prestea-Huni-Valley Municipality gathered in Damang to receive free fertilizers and pesticides from the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation.

They told Citi News that the threat of galamsey to cocoa is due to the low price of cocoa and the government’s switch from free to subsidized cocoa farm input delivery to farmers.

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