Cocoa farmers call for return to old method of payment

Accra, Nov. 3, GNA - Some cocoa farmers in the Western and Brong Ahafo Regions have called for a return to the old method of bonus payment through purchasing clerks.

They have also called for a review of the cocoa purchasing period to enable farmers receive payment before the beginning of the academic year to allow them to send their wards to school without having to borrow from money lenders who charge very high interest rates.

The farmers made the call during a fact-finding tour by the Parliamentary Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs to some cocoa growing areas in the two regions.

A statement from the Public Affairs Department of Parliament on Friday said the tour took the committee members to Enchi and Juaboso in the Western Region and Kasapin near Goaso in the Brong Ahafo Region, where members held various meetings with farmers in these areas. Addressing the farmers, Dr Mathew Antwi, Chairman of the Committee, commended government for increasing the producer price of cocoa five times since assuming power.

He, therefore, urged the farmers and other stakeholders to feel free to come out with their grievances so that these could be forwarded to the appropriate authorities.

The statement said the farmers urged government to make available D.D.T and capside spray for spraying their farms against diseases. Others called for a uniform and well calibrated scale for measuring cocoa before it is purchased to ensure fairness.

"Most of the contributors at the various fora lamented the poor state of roads leading to cocoa growing areas in the two regions. They said since most of the country's cocoa come from these areas, it is important that roads leading to these are made motorable," the statement added.