Osman Yakubu, the 2017 National Best Cocoa farmer has commended the government and COCOBOD for reviewing upwards the price of cocoa from GH¢3228 per bag to GH¢3625 per bag.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, a day after the announcement of the new price, the 2017 laureate said the new price was welcoming since farmers were disappointed in the early price announced in August this year.
“This is refreshing news for us as farmers because it really meets our expectations,” he said.
Meanwhile, he asked the government to ensure that prices of agro chemicals came down, coupled with labour so that farmers could afford to buy more supplies in addition to what COCOBOD supplied to farmers.
Yakubu appealed to the government to improve upon irrigation especially in cocoa growing areas to ensure all year-round farming so as to produce more to feed the country and for export.
On the issue of galamsey, the 2017 best cocoa farmer appealed to the government, traditional authorities and the media to ensure an end to the menace, considering the destruction it has caused to river bodies and the environment at large.
He also appealed to cocoa farmers to desist giving out their farmlands to illegal miners for money and consider the long-term benefits of cocoa to the nation and generations unborn.
