By: Kofi Sakyiama Pobi
As part of its vision to support cocoa farmers under its operation areas, the Federated Commodities Limited (FEDCO), has presented an amount of Ghc16 million cash premium to some beneficiaries at a ceremony held in Assin Fosu in the Central region of Ghana.
According to FEDCO and its partners, Walter Matter and Beyond Beans, the gesture will enhance better growth in the Cocoa industry.
Speaking to the media, the Managing Director of FEDCO, Mrs. Maria Adamu Zibo, noted that the move will also encourage the youth to venture into cocoa farming and see it as a viable business opportunity where they can choose to farm or engage in ancillary services in the production chain.
She, therefore, urged the management of Ghana COCOBOD, all relevant stakeholders, and the sector ministry to devise means of creating awareness of the opportunities in Cocoa farming by training and targeting the youth and providing them with the requisite technical support to generate more employment.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Cocoa Board Foundation, Mr. Charles Ameneglo, called for strong collaboration between stakeholders and security agencies to salvage smuggling to neighbouring countries, which has become a major challenge facing the cocoa industry.
He commended FEDCO and its allied partners for helping to improve the premium for Cocoa farmers.
On his part, the Akwamu Hene of Asin Fosu, Nana Kwakye, took a swipe at land owners who give their farms in exchange for galamsey business, which has culminated in destroying water bodies, arable farmlands, and the forest belt.
He has, therefore, cautioned people involved in these nefarious acts to desist from them for posterity’s sake.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed their profound gratitude to the managers of FEDCO since it gives the highest premium as far as cocoa buying is concerned.
The new market premium now stands at 50 and 64 Ghana cedis per tonne.
In all, about 37,000 farmers under the FEDCO scheme benefited from the 2023 premium package.