Earth is running out of chocolate

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• Kafui 9 years ago

  Good news for Ghana and what is government doing?

  Good news for Ghana and what is government doing?

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• G. K. Berko 9 years ago

  The impending shortage of Chocolate is a real possibility, given the rapid loss of Forests all around.
  
  In Ghana's situation, the decrease in Cocoa production began long ago, in the 80s both through smuggling and loss of ...
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  The impending shortage of Chocolate is a real possibility, given the rapid loss of Forests all around.
  
  In Ghana's situation, the decrease in Cocoa production began long ago, in the 80s both through smuggling and loss of Forest land supporting Cocoa production. We might have seen a transient rise in production in recent times due to certain incentives the Government offered as a result of rising World price of the Golden Bean. But that increase in production is not sustainable as our Forestry Commission and the Lands Department sit aloof to watch the devastation of the Forests continue.
  
  It is very sad that we cannot fully take advantage of the global decline to maximize our revenues. If any country in our area would be that lucky, it is the Ivory Coast. She escaped the Ebola scare that has massively affected the production of Cocoa in Liberia and Sierra Leone as many farmers in those worst hit Nations retreat into self-preservative mode. The Ivory Coast also has a better organized production efforts than us, resulting in continued leakage of our production to boost theirs.
  
  There are no indications that Nigeria and other Cocoa Production Nations are eager to step up their production, either. So, surely the shortage of Cocoa in the next few years is inevitable.
  
  If Ghana Government would only care more to motivate the Farmers, and provide the necessary security to protect the Forests from devastation by illicit loggers and Galamsey, we would see the greatest wealth creation among our Cocoa Farmers in our History soon. It behooves the Mahama Administration to manage the Forests better, and guide the Departments of Forestry, Lands and Mineral Resources and Agriculture to work together for the maximum benefit to the Nation. Meanwhile, the Security Agencies both inside and at the borders of the Nation must be pushed to do more to stop the crimes of pilfering Cocoa across the borders and illegal demolition of Forests.
  
  Beside Chocolate, Cocoa shells are increasingly becoming a part of Energy producing input as seen in the Company I am working at now. The shells are mixed with wood chips for the generation of Electricity. Why can't we do more to take advantage of this expanding use for Cocoa while the price is bound to soar?
  
  
  Long Live Ghana!!!

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• JAMES Y 9 years ago

  A solution to it is by increasing the producer price of the cocoa beans to give the farmers an incentive to produce more. An increase in the price of raw cocoa beans also gives young people incentive to do farming to grow coc ...
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  A solution to it is by increasing the producer price of the cocoa beans to give the farmers an incentive to produce more. An increase in the price of raw cocoa beans also gives young people incentive to do farming to grow cocoa trees. For a very long time farmers have been short-changed. They now see they must diversify, hence the shortage, irrespective of the increase consumption of the finished product - chocolate.

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• MARCUS AMPADU 9 years ago

  Why can't Cote d' Ivoire and Ghana, between them producing about 70% of the world's cocoa coming together to form a cartel to control the price and research of cocoa?
  
  Or the production of chocolate is controlled by compani ...
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  Why can't Cote d' Ivoire and Ghana, between them producing about 70% of the world's cocoa coming together to form a cartel to control the price and research of cocoa?
  
  Or the production of chocolate is controlled by companies in Europe, Cadbury, Hershey, etc.?

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