2022 NATIONAL BEST COCOA FARMERS EMBARK ON EDUCATIONAL TOUR IN EUROPE

Date: 22nd August 2024

The 2022 National Best Cocoa Farmers embarked on an educational tour of various cocoa processing facilities in Europe. 

The tour, which served as part of the awards package provided by Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for the farmers' outstanding contributions to the cocoa industry, was aimed at deepening their knowledge of the global cocoa value chain.

They also gained insights into the roles played by different stakeholders within the global cocoa industry. The experience further solidified their appreciation for their crucial contribution to the entire process.

The delegation included three prominent farmers who excelled in the 2021/2022 cocoa farming season: Bismark Fuachie, the 2022 National Best Cocoa Farmer; Joyce Dapaah, the 2022 Most Enterprising Female Cocoa Farmer; and Peter Paintsil, who earned the title of 2022 Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer.

The tour took the farmers through some of the most advanced cocoa processing facilities owned by Cargill, CocoaSource, KOA, and others, in Switzerland and the Netherlands. 

The farmers witnessed the various stages of processing, from roasting and grinding to refining and packaging. They also had the opportunity to engage with industry experts and learned about the latest innovations in cocoa processing.

"We were excited about the tour and the knowledge we gained to enrich our scope on cocoa farming as a business," Bismark Fuachie said about the tour.

By understanding the entire value chain, from farm to finished product, the farmers were expected to return home with renewed inspiration and ideas to improve their farms, thereby contributing to the continued success of Ghana's cocoa sector.