End Galamsey In Cocoa Growing Communities

Listen to this article

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

COCOA

Scientific classification: Cocoa trees belong to the family Sterculiaceae. The common cocoa tree is classified as Theobroma cacao. Cacao, common name for a tree, the seed of that tree, and for certain other related trees in a family that also contains the kola.The cacao tree is a perennial that yields several harvests annually.

First cultivated in South America, it was introduced into Europe during the 16th century. Today it is grown chiefly in western Africa. Cocoa beans are either purple or off-white and resemble almonds. Cocoa came to Ghana in 1876 from Equatorial Guinea by Tetteh Quashie.

The first documented shipment of cocoa from the Gold coast was made in 1893.By 1911, Ghana was the world’s leading cocoa exporter.Today, there are currently close to 720,000 cocoa farmers in Ghana and approximately 2 million in West Africa.West Africa supplies 70% of the word’s cocoa and Ghana is the second largest producer.

Do you want the best Odds? Click Here

Varieties of COCOA in Ghana

Criollo – they are long, yellow or red.
Forastero – the pods are short and smooth without warts.
Trinitario – it is a cross between the Criollo and the Forastero.

Problems Cocoa Farmers face

The price of cocoa on the world market changes frequently meaning the farmers have no long term security.
They are usually underpaid by cocoa buyers using fixed scales that show lower readings than the actual weight of their cocoa beans.
They are sometimes paid with checks that bounce or vouchers which the farmers have trouble cashing.
Mining industries and rubber industries plaguing the cocoa farms for mineral extractions and rubber plantation.
Uncontrollable pests and weeds in the course of farming.
Lack of capital and labour for farm extension.
Lack of storage facilities.

Plausible Remedy

Community sensitization on the importance of Cocoa to the farmer, community and the nation.
Publicise the situations to the general public to know what is happening.
Educate farmers to stop what is not in their interest.
Engage stakeholders concerned, for advice.
Promote what is good and criticize the unwanted.
Engage the youth for their perceptions.

REASONS TO PROTECT COCOA

We have Cocoa roads, Cocoa Scholarships, Cocoa Schools, the high proportion of fat in the bean kernels (cocoa butter) is used in medications, cosmetics, and soaps, the pulverized residue, which is called cocoa, is used in beverages and as a flavoring. Chocolate is also derived from cocoa beans but little do Galamsey and mining companies effect the Human status and communities aside polluting our water bodies.