GFGF extends cocoa farmers support programme to Tarkwa

Gold Fields Ghana Foundation (GFGF) has extended the Cocoa Framers Support Programme (CFSP) to Tarkwa at a launch on Tuesday.

The CFSP was first launched in 2018 at Damang, where the Foundation supported cocoa farmers by providing them with agricultural inputs annually.

Given the successful implementation of the CFSP in the Damang enclave in the last seven years, the initiative has been extended to the Tarkwa as well.

The decision to extend the CFSP to Tarkwa follows a request from the host communities Farmers Association and an evaluation of recommendations in the programme report.

At a launch of the CFSP in Tarkwa, the Manager of Gold Fields, Tarkwa Mine, Dr. Catherine Kuupol Kuutor indicated that a baseline assessment conducted in the Tarkwa communities revealed an average yield of 2.2 bags per acre, well below the recommended 8 bags per acre.

The study also revealed pervasive challenges in input access, pest management, finance and labour.

The CFSP, the Tarkwa Mine Manager revealed at the launch, attended by farmers, would address those gaps by supporting farmers with inputs whilst linking them  access to credit.

Catherine Kuupol further said the intention was to empower at least 300 cocoa farmers over a five-year period, by providing COCOBOD – approved fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and cocoa seedlings.

According to her, the intended impact is  60% increase in cocoa production/yield per farmer, 250 farmers expanding farm size by at least 25% through the distribution of cocoa seedlings, improved household incomes and livelihood resilience.

The Tarkwa mine Manger also pointed out that she was particularly pleased about the incorporation of safety training in the training sessions on the best agronomic practices in cocoa cultivation.

This, she noted, would ensure safe handling and application of agrochemicals whilst equipping farmers with the necessary knowledge and skills to optimize farming practices to improve yield.

Catherine KuupolKuutol told the gathering that one of the key investment areas of the GFGF was agriculture and that over the years the Foundation had invested over US$6.9 million (six million, nine hundred thousand dollars) to support the development of the agricultural sector.

According to her, the investment covered initiatives in livestock production, the Community Oil Palm Project (COPP), the Youth in Organic Horticulture Production (YouHoP) programme and the Cocoa Farmers Support Programme.

“Today, we are here to talk about cocoa and the importance and impact of the farmers support programme so far”.

Cocoa, she stressed, was one of Ghana’s most important cash crops and a key contributor to the economic development of the country.

However, despite its importance, the cocoa sector, she noted, faced challenges like limited access to inputs, pest/disease outbreaks and labour shortages.

With this in mind and as part of activities and programmes to boost livelihoods, cocoa production and the rural economy, the Foundation launched the cocoa support programme in Damang in 2018.

Through the programme, 600 farmers (32% female and 68% male) atDamang and surrounding communities benefited continuously for a three-year period.

This long-term uninterrupted support allowed the farmers to fully implement and benefit from the assistance provided, which included COCOBOD – approved fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides.

This comprehensive support led to a remarkable 77% increase in average cocoa yield among the beneficiary farmers.

She said a report based on the Cocoa Farmers’ support programme indicated that financially, the programme had led to considerable income growth with many farmers experiencing a rise in incomes by 40%.

“This success has not only demonstrated the viability of mining and farming coexistence, but has also reinforced the Foundation’s commitment to the sustainable development of its host communities”.

The programme report, she pointed out, also highlighted that the Cocoa Farmers’ support programme had been highly effective, as perceived by the majority of the beneficiaries.

According to her, a study revealed that 97.8% of the beneficiaries rated the programme as either “very effective” or “effective.”

This indicates strong approval and suggests that the programme met the needs of the beneficiaries.

Present at the launch were Nana Adarkwa Bediako II, Gyasehene of Apinto Divisional Stool, Robert Siaw, Regional Manager, Community Relations, Ato Boateng, Deputy CEO COCOBOD in charge of Finance and Administration, Abdel Razak Yakubu, Executive Secretary of GFGF and Issah Salifu Taylor, MP for Tarkwa Constituency amongst many others.

Beneficiaries of the CFSP took away agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, knapsack sprayers, pesticides amongst others.

Ato Boateng, Deputy CEO of COCOBOD commended GFGF for the initiative and indicated that the initiative was in line with government’s policy to increase cocoa yield.

He said, with the support offered by the Foundation, the beneficiaries should be able to turn around output.

 

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