COCOBOD, GIZ-SCISP BEGIN SENSITISATION ON GHANA COCOA TRACEABILITY SYSTEM

Date: 04th September 2023

Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in collaboration with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ-SCIP) has begun a massive campaign to sensitise cocoa farmers in the Assin Fosu District in the Central Region on the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System (GCTS).

The exercise is part of Ghana's commitment to ensure compliance with changes in the market access requirements of the European Union (EU), which emphasises cocoa traceability and sustainable farming practices.

Addressing Cocoa Farmers at the Gold Coast Camp in Assin Fosu on the benefits of the traceability system, a Principal Technical Officer of the Social Science and Statistical Unit of Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), Mr. Dickson Agyapong disclosed that, farmers' compliance to the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System (GCTS) would help grant market access to COCOBOD to enable them to prioritise ethical and sustainable sourcing of cocoa. enable them to prioritise ethical and sustainable sourcing of cocoa. 

He added that buyers of cocoa on the world market are willing to pay a premium for traceable cocoa which will give farmers the opportunity to tap into more lucrative market channels and also receive fair compensation for their produce. 

Mr. Dickson further encouraged the farmers to continue to adopt more sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices which will improve the quality of their cocoa beans and attract higher prices for a more improved and decent income for their produce. improve the quality of their cocoa beans and attract higher prices for a more improved and decent income for their produce. 

He assured the farmers that COCOBOD will continue to provide more informed technical assistance and training programmes to support cocoa farmers in improving their agricultural practices. These programs he added will help increase yields, reduce production costs, and enhance overall productivity, which can positively impact farmers' income. 

“Management will continue to deploy good community extension agents to your doorsteps to provide you with the technical support to produce cocoa more sustainably for better farmer income,” he emphasised. 

The Central Regional Chief Farmer of the Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association, Nana Kwesi Ofori commended COCOBOD for taking steps to sensitise stakeholders and promote compliance. He called on all the farmers to support this worthy course. 

In all about 4500 participants including cocoa farmers, cocoa purchasing clerks, and transporters, among others, are expected to benefit from the sensitisation exercise in the Assin Fosu District. 

The exercise is expected to help in increasing accountability and sustainability of the cocoa sector from the farm gate to the first purchase point.