By Elorm Yao Aryee
The Peki Operational Area of Amimli Cocoa Farmers Union has been inaugurated at Peki-Avetile in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region to promote the shared values and interests of cocoa farmers in the area.
The Union consists of cocoa farmers cooperatives in communities such as Wudome, Tsibu, Adzokoe, Todome, Ayensu, Dzogbati and Toh Kpalime. Members are optimistic that the Union will provide a platform for their voices to be heard by duty bearers in the cocoa sector. The Union also intends to engage in activities that will enable them to fully harness their potential and experiences in cocoa farming to boost cocoa production in the Volta Region.
The Chairman of the Union, Kofi Sabon Asare noted that the overall goal is to improve the livelihoods of members and to ensure their interests are represented in decision-making processes within the cocoa industry. “With a formidable union we can fight for the interest of the cocoa farmers so we benefit from our toils. No one will fight for us, except ourselves”, he noted.
Mr Sabon-Asare urged the government to provide adequate incentives and education to entice the youth into cocoa farming. He hoped that the move will make the cocoa sector lucrative such that the youth who are engaged in illegal mining will venture into cocoa farming. “We need to educate the youth, so that they will come and replace the aging farmers who are selling their cocoa farms to illegal miners. Illegal mining is not sustainable because minerals deplete overtime, but cocoa farming is sustainable”, he stressed.
Mr Sabon-Asare stated that the Union will work to attract investors to the area to establish cocoa processing factories to add value to their cocoa beans before export.
“The chocolate manufacturing factories in the country don’t get enough cocoa to produce, just because the production of cocoa is declining. What our Union also seeks to do is to call for the creation of factories in our area so cocoa beans will be processed over here. And if we start exporting chocolates, it will earn us more, rather than exporting just the raw beans”, he said.
The Hohoe-Kpeve District Cocoa Officer, Derrick Alarbi Donkor said COCOBOD will support the Union with the necessary farm inputs to ensure that they produce high yields to increase the country’s cocoa stock. He however urged cocoa farmers to desist from smuggling their produce to other countries, saying it affects government’s revenue mobilisation for economic development.
The South Dayi District Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, ADO I Godwin Gameli Gbedemah urged cocoa farmers to eschew all forms of practices that cause bush fires to prevent their farms from destruction and loss of their farm produce.
The Paramount Chief of Peki Traditional Area, Deiga Kwadzo Dei XII pledged his support towards the development of the Amimli Cocoa Farmers Union
