By Yussif Ibrahim
Fumesua, Feb. 14, GNA – Earth Care Ghana in partnership with the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) has organised the maiden edition of the Ghana Cocoa Innovation Leadership Boot Camp, to equip cocoa farmers with modern technology, innovative production methods and value addition skills.
The five-year initiative seeks to build the capacity of cocoa farmers to increase yields, adopt sustainable practices, and take advantage of emerging opportunities within the global cocoa value chain.
Mr Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the Chief Executive Officer of Earth Care Ghana, said the programme was designed to respond to challenges confronting Ghana’s cocoa sector and restore its competitiveness on the international market.
He noted that although Ghana had historically been one of the world’s leading cocoa exporters, farmers continued to face difficulties, including low yields and limited value addition.
“This intervention is to encourage cocoa farmers not to lose hope. There are enormous opportunities in cocoa cultivation if farmers are supported with the right knowledge, technology and exposure,” he said.
Mr Appiah-Kubi disclosed that beyond training in modern agronomic practices, the project would expose farmers to innovative approaches that go beyond the sale of raw cocoa beans.
He announced that scholarship opportunities had been secured through foreign partners for cocoa farmers and their children, ranging from degree to PhD levels, fully funded by partner universities.
The training model is largely practical to ensure inclusivity, especially for farmers with little or no formal education, he said.
“All the professors involved are also practitioners on the ground. The training is practical and field-based, so regardless of educational background, farmers can benefit and apply the knowledge directly,” he explained.
Mr. Appiah-Kubi said as part of efforts to attract the youth into cocoa farming, the organisation would next year distribute one million cocoa seedlings across five districts under the first phase of a pilot project.
He said the initiative aimed to create more than 500 direct jobs for young people, aside from indirect employment opportunities along the value chain.
The programme, dubbed “Young Smart Farmer,” targets youth between 17 and 40 years, equipping them with modern skills in cocoa production to make the sector more attractive and profitable.
He added that local partners included FORIG, the Ghana Seed Centre and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), while two agricultural universities in Thailand were also collaborating on the project to provide technical input and international exposure.
Dr James Amponsah, a Research Scientist at FORIG, said the project was focused on exposing local farmers to innovative cocoa production systems adopted globally.
He explained that experts from research institutions and universities in Thailand were supporting the programme to explore ways of maximising value from cocoa beyond the sale of beans.
The project promotes integrated and sustainable cocoa production systems, including agroforestry, he said.
“FORIG’s role is to provide technical guidance on the agroforestry component – integrating suitable tree species into cocoa farms to enhance productivity and environmental sustainability,” Dr Amponsah said.
He indicated that the institute would support farmers in sourcing quality planting materials, including seeds and seedlings, and recommend appropriate tree species for cocoa-based agroforestry systems.
Dr Amponsah stressed that increasing yields remained central to transforming Ghana’s cocoa sector and reducing reliance on exporting raw beans.
“With our experience and technical know-how, we are ready to support farmers and partners to ensure that cocoa yields improve while innovative approaches to value addition are pursued,” he added.
The Ghana Cocoa Leadership Innovation Boot Camp is expected to strengthen collaboration between research institutions, development partners and farmers to drive sustainable growth in the cocoa sector.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo