We will Sell Our Farms For Galamsey If Gov’t Doesn’t Increase Price – Cocoa Farmers
Cocoa farmers in the Prestea-Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region are warning the government to immediately increase the price of cocoa or risk having farms converted for illegal mining (galamsey) activities.
The farmers, who made the revelation in an interview, said the current cocoa price was woefully inadequate, which served as a disincentive to farming, and that the government’s withdrawal of free cocoa farm inputs has made it difficult for them to purchase adequate inputs for their farms.
They said they are now forced to rely on major mining companies in Ghana to provide them with free farm inputs.
The Western Region is gradually losing its position as a major cocoa-producing region due to the intensification of illegal small-scale gold mining activities.
The region’s new status as a hub for galamsey activities is threatening the growth of the cocoa industry, as many farmers find the cocoa business unattractive due to the low price of cocoa compared to selling their cocoa farms to galamsey operators.
Gold Fields Ghana Foundation donated free fertilizers and pesticides to farmers from the Damang cocoa district in the galamsey-ridden area of Prestea-Huni-Valley Municipality.
The foundation gave the cocoa farm inputs to 240 farmers in the district.
“The threat of galamsey to cocoa is due to the low price of cocoa and the government’s switch from free to subsidized cocoa farm input delivery to farmers,” the farmers lamented in their appreciation speech.
The Sustainability Development Manager of Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Robert Siaw, said the foundation’s support for cocoa farm inputs this year alone cost $20,000.
Due to its importance, he assured the farmers of the foundation’s continued commitment to supporting the cocoa sector.
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Affairs at COCOBOD, Stephen Fiifi Boafo, agreed that galamsey and the low price of cocoa are threats to the cocoa industry.
He hinted at a possible review of cocoa prices in October 2023.
The government increased the farmgate price of cocoa beans by 21 per cent from GH¢660 to GH¢800 a bag.
That comes to GH¢12,800 per tonne for the main crop 2022/2023 season, which started on October 7, 2022.