Cocoa Dialogue: Cocoa Is A Backbone Of Our Country- GARDJA Engages Cocoa Farmers

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The Ghana Agricultural and Rural Development Journalists Association, GARDJA as part of her contribution towards development in Cocoa Farming in Ghana, engages cocoa farmers, FBO’s, Agricultural Extension Officers, Forestry Commission and other stakeholders to deliberate on the best possible ways sustaining cocoa as the backbone of the nation.

The program which took place on 2nd March 2019 at the auditorium of University of Agricultural and Environmental Studies, UCAES was themed as “Cocoa is the backbone of our country and its sustainability is key”.

The 3rd edition of this engagement was very successful since participants the organization anticipated for were overwhelmingly more. Cocoa famers within 9 Districts in Eastern region and comprised of about 15 cocoa farmers association honoured the invitation to dialogue their discomforts in cocoa farming.

Most of the famers complained of selective cocoa mass spraying, lack of fertizers, inability to control pests and weeds. Some also were very much furious and saddened because their land owners connive with miners to destroy their cocoa lands for mining.

Cocoa farmers from East Akyem municipality who came in their numbers also complained bitterly on the stance government and the chiefs in the area have taken to drive them all away from their cocoa farm lands for rubber plantation.

It was sad when other cocoa farmers complained woefully because they forced to sell their cocoa farms or compelled to sell because their routes to the farms would be blocked by the farmers.

There were other farmers who also complained of irrigation and pleaded government intervenes to come to their aid.

The program was very successful as farmers from Atiwa East and West, Fanteakwa South and North, Abuakwa South and North, East Akyem, New Buabeng among MoFA representatives, Lecturers from UCAES, Journalists across the nation and a lot of Agric extension officers were given the platform to discuss the way forward to ensuring the sustainability of Cocoa in Ghana.

By: Radio1News|Ghana|Obido Nana Gyasi