The Hon Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afiriyie Akoto has announced the new producer price of cocoa for the year 2021/2022 season as Six Hundred and Sixty Ghana Cedis (Gh 660) per bag of 64 kilogram gross weight which takes effect from Friday 8 October, 2021.
He explained that, in spite of the fall in the world market price of cocoa, the Government has maintained the producer price at GH¢10,560.00 per tonne, which represents 87.15% of the FOB value which translates into GH¢660 per bag.
Mr Akoto said, the price is the highest within the sub-region and it demonstrates Government’s commitment to sustain the interest of the cocoa farmer in producing cocoa and also to improve the well-being of cocoa farmers.
“The producer price of cocoa was maintained when all cocoa producing countries are contemplating a reduction in their farm gate prices following a slump in the terminal cocoa market as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
The minister further announced that, Government will in the 2021/22 season, implement the Cocoa Farmer’s pension scheme which also an unprecedented achievement under His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo to ensure a sustainable livelihood of the Ghanaian cocoa farmer after they retire from active cocoa farming.
The minister hinted that the government has introduced a uniform non-adjustable electronic weighing which has been certified by the Ghana Standard Authority for the purchase of cocoa from this very cocoa season and urged all LBCs to cooperate in order to get the cocoa farmers exactly what is due them.
Dr. Afiriyie Akoto concluded by assuring cocoa farmers that, the government will continue to support cocoa farmers through the pests and diseases control programme (Mass Spraying), Hi-Tech, Pruning, Hand Pollination, and Cocoa Rehabilitation and also committed to continuing to supply certified planting materials that are drought-tolerant, early bearing and high-yielding and that, COCOBOD has made available funds, jute sacks and related logistics for the smooth take-off of the 2021/22 Main Crop Season.
