COCOA FARMERS WANTS MORE (PAGE 1)

Story: Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu, Takoradi
Cocoa farmers in the Western Region have welcomed the new producer price and novelty insurance package but said 35 per cent price increase was below their expectation.
The farmers warned the current price difference between producers in Ghana and neighboring Cote d’Ivoire coupled with the rate of the CFA-franc against the cedi smuggling would increase.
According to them, the price in that country was GHC180 per 64-kilogramme compared to Ghana where were be paid GHC138.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, a section of farmers across the region said the government had demonstrated its readiness to help them secure good price for their produce but their wished the prices would have been pushed to GHC150 instead of the GHC138.
Those in Akontombra and other Sefwi areas, Mampon-Abotariye, Adum-Bansu, Nzema and Amenfi areas commended the government but wished to price was increased more than the current GHC138.
They also denied any partiality and political interference in the current mass spraying in the region and said some individual farmers were rather demanding that the chemicals and the spraying guns should handed to them.
This according to the farmers that would not be to their interest and asked the government to formulate plans that ensure that annual yield was increased and the bonus promised them paid soon.
Opanyin Francis Tuffour, a cocoa farmer said they were aware of the administrative procedures before the cocoa finally enters the international market.
“But we think the government could do better, even if it will not be price equal with our neighbors we think we deserved GHC150,” he said.
He said the disparities in the prices of the two countries farmers would start selling to the black marketers, who were aggressive in their quest to buy from the country’s farmers.
Asked if he was part of the people who preferred the black market, the said, “I have never tried that, but people who sell their produce to smugglers did not only get the better deal but also the currency of that country which when converted gives them more.”
Another farmer, Opanyin Anthony Kameh said they are happy with the price and appealed to the government to ensure that apart from various interventions the environment should be created for them secure loans from the banks.
Opanyi Kameh said there was the need for special financial package which would enable them access loan like any other corporate institution.
That aside the sacks use in Cote d’Ivoire is bigger than that of Ghana and weigh more than 80-kilogramme therefore if it cost GHC 180 in that country, it is justifiable.
On the mass spraying, Opanyi Kameh said it was important to note that Cocoa Abrabopa Company and the government were doing well, but the spraying a lone was not enough.
He said the government should bellow others to also deal in the chemical so they could buy and spray as and when they wanted.
At Sefwi-Akontombra, the farmers welcomed the new price but denied interference of Member of Parliament for the area.
According to the farmers at Akontombra, mass spraying team visit various farms to spray without looking at one’s tribal, political or other colourisation.
They referred the Daily Graphic to the District Agriculture officer; Mr Nyamekye explained that the team had representative of the chief farmer, women farmer, local task force, assembly member, produce buyers and supervisors.
He said as far as they were concerned, there was not interference in their operations not even from his department.