Effective next year, all fertilizers for farmers will be procured locally as the country now has the capacity to supply the needed quantity of fertilizers for farmers especially those in the cocoa sector.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia who announced this at the 20th Anniversary Ceremony of Olam Ghana Cocoa also indicated that a pension scheme is in the offing for cocoa farmers to improve their living conditions.
While congratulating Olam Ghana for their enormous contribution to the cocoa sector, Vice President Bawumia admonished cocoa farmers to also honor their end the bargain and adhere to proper farming practices to improve yields.
Olam Ghana Cocoa has over the past 20 years grown to become one of the largest Licensed Buying Companies purchasing about 140,000 metric tonnes of cocoa beans from farmers in Ghana and other countries.
Vice President Bawumia said Olam has been a shining example in the cocoa sector, expanding their their activities from a Licensed Buying Company to value addition. He noted that the pact signed between Ghana and Cote D’voire has birth the payment of living income differential which will better the lot of cocoa farmers.
Vice President Bawumia announced that from next year, Ghana will source fertilizers locally. This follows the successful launch of a fertilizer factory under the one district one factory program.
The Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Oforipayin called for a total restructuring of the agriculture sector.
While acknowledging government’s effort to revamp the sector by introducing initiatives such as the Planting for for and Jobs, the Okyehene stressed that farmers need to benefit from the sector as they are the bedrock for development.
He expressed worry that some farmers are now trading off their farm lands for galamsey activities.
The Business Head Olam Ghana Cocoa Eric Asare Botwe said the company has grown from the purchase of 10,000 to 140,000 metric tonnes.
He noted that Olam has leverage on technology to do business with clients. The Deputy Chief Executive of COCOBOD in charge of Operations, Dr. Emmanuel Opoku said from next year, all cocoa purchases will attract a living income differential.
This follows the pact Ghana has signed with Cote D’voire in order to improve the living conditions of cocoa farmers.
The Global Cocoa Head of Olam Ghana, Gerard Manley commended Ghana for produce one of the best cocoa beans in the world.
He said Olama global is outlined some measures put in place to stay competitive.
Olam currently supplies and plants 435,000 shade trees annually, raises 3.6 million seedlings to over 4000 farmers in 175 communities.
Story filed by Mercy Darko
