MAKE SIMPLE MECHANISED AGRIC INPUTS FOR FARMERS – COCOBOD BOSS TO ENGINEERS

Date: 13th December 2022

The Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Hon. Joseph Boahen Aidoo has called on Ghana's engineering community to create simple, mechanized tools for farmers to improve the efficiency and ease of their farming activities.  

During the 2022 Graduation and Matriculation Ceremony at Bunso Cocoa College, where Hon Aidoo also serves as Chairman of the College’s Council, he highlighted the numerous opportunities in the agricultural sector for domestically produced agricultural equipment.

He added that small-holder farmers, who make up the majority of cocoa and food crop producers in the country, will benefit immensely from such implements which make farming less laborious.

During the ceremony, which had the theme of "Raising the Manpower for Resilient Tree Crop Sector", Hon Aidoo also awarded the overall best student, Abdulai Ismaila, with a job opportunity at COCOBOD. 

The Bunso Cocoa College, which is affiliated with the University of Cape Coast, offers Diploma and Certificate programmes in Agronomy and Extension in Coffee and Cocoa Production. Twenty-one (21) out of the sixty-nine (69) member cohort of graduating students obtained First Class; fourteen (14) obtained Second Class Upper, while thirty-one (31) obtained Second Class Lower.

Hon Aidoo encouraged the students to strive for excellence and to be agents of change in Ghana's agricultural sector. 

“We expect our passing out graduates to enter the world, not as dependents or appendages but as instruments of change and development. Be useful and transformational to people that come your way and be beneficial to your mother Ghana. Believe in yourselves and that nothing is impossible to accomplish,” he advised.

He also emphasized the significance of research, science, and technology in driving advancements in agriculture for national economic development, calling for Bunso Cocoa College to expand its programs.

“The university college needs to broaden its scope beyond just training and refresher courses in agronomy and farm management to include cocoa industrialisation; food and nutrition; design and packaging; branding; trading and commerce in cocoa and cocoa related products.”

He added that research has shown that the most impactful value-addition model is the artisanal chocolate manufacturers concept, hence, the Bunso Cocoa College must design a programme for artisanal chocolate entrepreneurs.

“I will urge the management of the university college to introduce innovative programs that will produce the next generation of local engineers and technicians who will transform the local cocoa processing sector through artisanal chocolate manufacturing”, he urged.