Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, New Tafo
March 12, 2008
THE Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) at New Tafo in the East Akyem District of the Eastern Region has distributed three clones of cocoa it developed three years to its Seed Production Unit (SPU) for multiplication and distribution to cocoa farmers.
The new drought-resistant high variety cocoa would boost production to make it possible for the country to hit an all-time record target of one million tonnes per year from 2010.
The Executive Director of CRIG, Dr Adu Ampomah, made this known at this year’s Best Worker award ceremony of the institute at New Tafo at the weekend.
The ceremony, attended by a number of dignitaries such as the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, witnessed the presentation of prizes to a number of workers who distinguished themselves in 2007, with Mr Abraham Nkansah of the Entomology Division receiving the ultimate award of a deep freezer.
Dr Ampomah said for cocoa farmers to increase production, especially with regard to the cultivation of the new crop, researchers had been educating and guiding the farmers to apply new technologies.
He expressed the hope that, with the measures put in place, cocoa production would in the near future increase considerably.
“Our researchers are on hand giving useful information on the crop to farmers and guiding them on production, which we believe, will increase production in the near future,” he stated.
Dr Ampomah also stated that CRIG was educating cocoa farmers on the use of child labour on cocoa farms due to its negative effects on the cocoa industry on the international scene.
He said CRIG was not concentrating only on cocoa, as cashew farmers were also being taught modern methods of production.
In an address read for the Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Mr Isaac Osei by Mr Tony Fofie, the Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Agronomy, he said since the new management assumed office a few years ago, it had been making systematic and progressive efforts to move cocoa production to a higher level for the betterment of all stakeholders.
He stated that the measures instituted had started yielding positive results.
“We have set ourselves a target of 1,000 tonnes of cocoa production by 2010 and we strongly believe that this target is achievable, considering our total commitment, the resources we have marshalled and providence on our side,”Mr Osei said.
He, therefore, asked workers of CRIG to redouble their efforts to achieve that goal, which he said, would be in the interest of all stakeholders including the workers, cocoa farmers and the country as a whole.
“Our goal, in short, is to build a number one business for the nation with the quality product we offer to the world market and to adequately compensate our dedicated farmers, who produce it”, the chief executive stated.
With regard to the welfare of Crig’s workers, Mr Osei said, COCOBOD would continue to improve their lot and, therefore, appealed to them to put in more efforts in the face of challenges so that it would be able to meet its objective for this year.
He praised workers of CRIG for their initiative and support over the years, which had helped a lot in improving cocoa production in the country.
Mr Afram Asiedu, for his part, asked the workers of CRIG not to relent their efforts at finding scientific solutions to the cocoa industry since cocoa had been the life blood of the country’s economy.
The Omanhene of Kwahu Traditional Area, and Chairman of COCOBOD Board of Directors, Daasebre Akuamoah Boateng who chaired the function, expressed the hope that the prizes given to the workers would spur them on to offer their best this year.
He said that would go a long way to sustain the cocoa industry.
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