Cocoa: Government maintains producer price at Ghs 10,560 per tonne
Government has maintained the price it pays cocoa farmers for a tonne of cocoa at Ghs 10,560.
The decision by government to maintain the producer price of Ghs 10,560 is despite a slump in the terminal price on the market due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Taking effect from Friday, October 8, 2021, the price represents 87.15 per cent of the Free on Board value and translates into Ghs 660 per cocoa bag of 64 kilogramme.
Announcing the price after a meeting with the Producer Price Review Committee, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afrieyie Akoto, stated keeping the farm gate price at the same level as last year showed the government’s commitment to sustaining the interest of cocoa farmers and to improve their well-being.
“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,” he said.
Adding that, the government would implement the Cocoa Farmer’s Pension Scheme in the 2021/22 season to ensure a sustainable livelihood for farmers after they retire from active cocoa farming.
The Minister further noted that, to allow farmers enjoy the full benefits from their investments, the government had introduced a uniform non-adjustable electronic weighing scale for cocoa purchases with effect from October 8, 2021.
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“The scale has been certified by the Ghana Standard Authority and has been ascertained to conform to mandatory requirements. Cocoa buyers cannot adjust the weighing scale after it has been calibrated and sealed by the Ghana Standards Authority,” he said.
Dr Afriyie Akoto urged Licensed Buying Companies to cooperate with the Ghana Standards Authority to set up the scales and use them to weigh the farmers cocoa.
He further pledged government’s continued support for cocoa farmers through the pests and diseases control and diseases control programme, Hi-Tech, pruning, hand pollination and cocoa rehabilitation.
“Government will also continue to supply certified drought-tolerant, early bearing and high-yielding planting materials to the farmers,” he added.
The committee also approved the rates and fees for all other stakeholders in the supply chain, including the Buyer’s margin, Hauliers’ rate, warehousing and internal marketing costs as well as fees for disinfestation, grading and sealing and scale inspection.
