COCOBOD lauds Gold Fields Foundation for supporting cocoa farmers to increase yields

By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY, Tarkwa

Ato Boateng, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COCOBOD (Finance and Administration) has lauded Gold Fields Ghana Foundation for supporting cocoa farmers with input to increase their yields.

“This programme is in line with government policy to increase cocoa output in Ghana through reclamation and rehabilitation”, he said.

Mr. Boateng was speaking at the launch of Cocoa Farmers’ Support Programme held at Tarkwa in the Western Region.

He explained that government has decided to acquire20,000 hectares of land for new plantations to support in increasing the cocoa output in Ghana.

“To date, we have distributed over 76,000 bags of chemicals to the cocoa farmers. And this distribution has covered over 5,000 farmers and 88 farmer cooperatives” he pointed out.

“We believe that with what COCOBOD is doing and what Gold Fields is also doing, we should be able to turn around the outputs in the Western Region, especially the Takwa area” Deputy CEO of COCOBOD said.

He continued that “So we strongly support what Gold Fields is doing with farmers here, and commit fully to provide all the logistical support in terms of giving our labor and then also the outputs such as i insecticide and pesticide that are needed to prevent diseases.

“So, we are ready and available to support Gold Fields and the farmers in turning around the story in Western Region” Mr. Boateng said.

He said the President, at a meeting recently mentioned that government would implement a policy to make the sale of cocoa farms for illegal mining activities as unlawful.

“I believe Gold Fields has taken the lead in this intervention and has proven that mining and gold can live side by side and that the two can coexist without the other cannibalizing each other” he added.

Dr. Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, Tarkwa Mine Manager of Gold Fields Ghana Limited explained that one of the key investment areas of the Foundation is agriculture. Over the years, the Foundation has invested over US$6.9 million to support the development of the agricultural sector.

This investment, she said covers initiatives in livestock production, the Community Oil Palm Project (COPP), the Youth in Organic Horticulture Production (YouHoP) programme, and the Cocoa Farmers Support Programme.

She said 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, she said 600 farmers (32% female and 68% male) in Damang 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” Dr. Kuutor said.

Following its success, she said the initiative is now being replicated at Tarkwa to drive similar impact.

“Through the Foundation, our intention is to empower at least 300 cocoa farmers over a five-year period, by providing; approved fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, and cocoa seedlings, training on best farm practices and agroforestry, support for farm expansion and sustainable farming through seedling distribution” she added.

The Appinto Gyaasehene, Nana Dr. Darkwa Bediako III, called on Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, to channel more resources into reclaiming degraded lands for cocoa farming, positioning it as a sustainable alternative to combat the environmental impact of illegal mining activities.

He believes that targeted rehabilitation of cocoa farms destroyed by illegal mining, backed by initiatives like this, can significantly enhance incomes and living conditions for affected communities.

Hundred cocoa farmers were presented with farming inputs including fertilizer among others.

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