GHANA – Ghana, world’s second largest cocoa producer and exporter, is expected to set a new record high of cocoa production in the 2020/21 season.
According to the Ghana Cocoa Board, the current season’s production is forecasted to reach 1.06 million tonnes, as 1.03 million tonnes has already been recorded with and only six weeks left to end of season.
The already attained production beats the previous record of 1.024 million metric tonnes registered in the 2010/ 2011 crop season.
It is also higher that the out-put registered in 2019/2020 of about 800 thousand tons of cocoa beans, a decrease from approximately 812 thousand tons in 2018/2019, reports Statista.
“This achievement has never happened in the history of our cocoa industry. Notwithstanding the negative impact of COVID-19 our hardworking farmers have broken the existing record.”
Ghana Cocoa Board Chief Executive – Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo
Ghana Cocoa Board Chief Executive Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, attributed the surge in production to the efforts of the hardworking farmers and the several interventions introduced by the organization to increase the yield.
“This achievement has never happened in the history of our cocoa industry. Notwithstanding the negative impact of COVID-19 our hardworking farmers have broken the existing record,” he said, adding that all stakeholders in the cocoa production line must be applauded.
Mr Boahen Aidoo said the provision of improved seeds and fertilizer as well as mass pruning exercise undertaken by the Board contributed to the increase in yield.
“We at COCOBOD also did a lot of work with the various stakeholders such as the License Buying Companies, Extension Officers, the Quality Control Unit, researchers and the farmers to achieve this target.”
Mr. Boahen Aidoo expressed optimism that production in the 2021/2022 crop season will exceed the current target due to the US$400 Living Income Differential (LID) which directly goes to farmers.
“We are very sure that as the COVID-19 pandemic is controlled, the consumption of chocolate will go up and this will lead to an increase in demand for cocoa. When this happens, the Ghanaian cocoa farmer will be better off.”
Meanwhile in neighbouring Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, has already sold 1.4 million tonnes of beans in advance as of August 8.
This volume represents 93% of the target of 1.6 million tonnes planned by the end of September, the end of the cocoa year.
The two West African nations who together produce more than 60% of the world’s cocoa, have continued to strengthen and expand their existing economic relations on cocoa by establishing the Ivory Coast-Ghana Cocoa Initiative Secretariat in Accra.
The move galvanises the two countries’ resolve to secure and sustain a decent income for cocoa farmers in their respective countries through the framework of a fully implemented Living Income Differential (LID) and other joint programmes.
The initiative further binds both countries to commit to a common front on the global cocoa market with respect to policy formulation, research, pricing, anti-smuggling, and sustainability initiatives in their countries to support growers of the crop.