Ghana to focus on cocoa certification to achieve production targets

The Kuapa Kokoo Farmers' Union wants the government and COCOBOD to take a critical look at cocoa certification as a key factor in modern cocoa production.

Cocoa buyers and consumers of chocolate around the world are increasingly demanding traceable cocoa and a lot of cocoa producing countries are grabbing the opportunities therein.

Cocoa certification demands that a farmer's social, environmental and economic activities fall in line with best labour practices; in exchange for premium price on produce.

This year for instance, Divine Chocolate Limited is contributing $178,000 in Fairtrade premiums through Fairtrade cocoa purchased from Ghana's Kuapa Kokoo, which owns a part of the UK-based company.

Managing Director, Sophi Tranchell told Luv Biz Report “the certification is very useful for consumers in places like England and America to know that things have been checked”, adding that it can as well be useful tool for farmers to run their businesses better.

Few licenced buying companies in Ghana are however presently involved in this certification trade.

The 17th Annual Delegates Conference of Kuapa Kokoo Farmers' Union in Kumasi focused on certification in cocoa as a means of achieving Ghana's one million metric tonne target by 2012.

Cocoa certification consultant, Rita Owusu Amankwah says Ghana should start the process to share in the benefits of cocoa certification, as the global chocolate and cocoa industry rapidly move towards certified and sustainable cocoa marketing.

She observed challenges, like increased labour cost and untimely supply of farm inputs, could be discouraging for farmers who want to join certification programmes.

Ms. Owusu Amankwah however believes cocoa farmers would be better off in the long run, based on the findings of a research she conducted in cocoa growing communities in the Ashanti and Western regions.

“The certified farmers that I talked to, within a period of one and a half years, most of them have increased their yield from 10-55%, after good agricultural practices, integrated pest and crop management, and also adhering to other environmentally friendly standards”, she revealed.

To scale up cocoa certification programmes in Ghana, the Executive Director of the Kuapa Kokoo Farmers' Union, Emmanuel Arthur has proposed the establishment of a desk by the Ghana Cocoa Board (CCOBOD) to coordinate activities.

According to him, “it will be good for COCOBOD to play a central role in the certification process, so that whatever certification scheme is being introduced in Ghana, COCOBOD is aware and is aware of the benefits that the farmers will get and then the obligations that they have to go through in that certification”.

Kuapa Kooko is implementing an Internal Control System and embarking on environmental and child labour programmes to meet fair trade standards of production.

Meanwhile, Kuapa Kokoo Limited bought 28,645 tonnes of cocoa for the 2009/2010 main crop season, out of a targeted 35,000 tonnes.

Managing Director, Kwasi Aduse-Poku attributes the shortfall in purchases to challenges in cash flow, including delayed release of Seed Fund from COCOBOD to purchase cocoa during the pre-season.

He said whilst management works to source additional trading capital for purchases, the farmers should take advantage of an input credit system established by the Kuapa Kokoo Credit Union to expand their farms.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/Luv Fm/Ghana