About 100,000 pieces of alleged substandard motorised slashers procured by Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in 2019 at the cost of about $100 million for distribution to cocoa farmers are gathering dust at Cocobod warehouse in Akyem Bososo in Fanteakwa South of Eastern region.
Ghana Cocobod took delivery of the 100,000 pieces of motorised slashers to be distributed to cocoa farmers throughout the country.
The slashers were to among other things prevent the farmers from resorting to the use of weedicides on their farms and to ostensibly reduce the risk of having the cocoa beans contaminated and rejected on the world market.
The intervention follows a ban by Cocobod on the use of weedicides on cocoa farms and the slashers are expected to reduce the drudgery and discomfort farmers go through in managing their farms.
The machines were also meant for clearing weeds, as well as pruning of branches on cocoa trees.
Some of the cocoa farmers said the slashers were not standard therefore could not be used for the intended purposes.
It was also revealed that another $100 million worth of substandard weighing scales procured for cocoa purchasing clerks have also been abandoned and become waste .
Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, board chairman of Cocobod, who led members of the board technocrats, and leaders of some cocoa farmer groups on Thursday to inspect the abandoned slashers, said these and many other mismanagement plunged cocobod into over 32billion cedis debt.
The team proceeded to meet 2024 National Best Farmer Opanyin Abraham Adusei and some cocoa farmers in their cocoa farms as part of the regional tour to meet cocoa farmer assess situation on the ground.
Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo said despite drastic reduction in the world market price of cocoa government is paying 130% FOB price ensuring that famers are cushioned in the face of global price crises of the commodity.
He assured that despite signs of further reduction of cocoa prices on the world market, government will not reduce farmgate price again.
Opanyin Abraham Adusei said farmers are aware of the declining world cocoa prices hence appreciate the farmgate price of the cocoa bean however appealed to government to ensure it releases enough monies for the purchase of cocoa beans currently packed in wearhouses.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
