The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has communicated its agenda to roll out an irrigation programme for farmers in cocoa-growing areas to ensure an all-year-round water supply for their farmlands to boost production and yields in the Ghana cocoa sector.
According to the Board, this programme is very necessary due to the recent droughts in those areas, which have caused a lot of damage by withering most of the cocoa trees, stunted growth, and low yield.
This was announced by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Joseph Aidoo, at the start of a two-working tour to some farmers at Kumikrom in the Western Region. During the tour, the CEO together with his officials inspected rehabilitation works by the farmers.
He revealed that, “In addition to the introduction of the irrigation system, farmers must apply the droppings of fowls around their crops to serve as organic fertilizer.” He explained that with the combination of these measures, the cocoa industry will witness a boom in production.
In his submission, he hinted at a shortage of fertilizer in the coming months due to the Russia-Ukraine war, so COCOBOD had decided to engage farmers to adopt best practices to increase productivity.
He however cautioned farmers against the use of unfriendly farming practices such as the application of unapproved chemicals on the cocoa trees.
Also speaking, the Sefwi Bekwai District Officer. Mr. Frank Amamoo Antwi said farmers in the district had treated a sizeable number of hectares through weeding, pruning and pollination with the help of the 1,030 rehabilitated farmlands in the district.
According to him, the cooperative farmers association which is made up of 91 workers cultivated four acres of land.
To boost production in the area, the COCOBOD distributed 162,800 plantain suckers and cocoa seedlings to farmers. The Board was commended for this timely intervention to boost cocoa production in the area.
It is however expected that the intervention coupled with the hard work of the cocoa farmers would translate into increased production; thereby preserving the cocoa sector and sustaining the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.
Cocoa production has contributed significantly to Ghana’s economy and has been one of Ghana’s most grown crops, which is being exported to many countries.
“According to COCOBOD, the irrigation programme set to be rolled out is very necessary due to the recent droughts in most cocoa areas, which has caused a lot of damage by withering most of the cocoa trees, stunted growth, and low yield.”
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