Ghana Cocoa Board, (COCOBOD) will this year equip all its receptive centres with requisite equipment to undertake residue analysis and issue appropriate certificates. COCOBOD Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Isaac Osei said the move is to reassure the market of Ghana’s readiness to comply with new regulations.
“We have become concerned about minimum residue levels expressed by our key markets. We are worried that certain types of chemicals unapproved and bad for cocoa are being used.”
He stressed that Ghana will never compromise on the quality of her cocoa beans which is enjoying high market value worldwide.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra to announce the opening of the main crop season on Friday, October 19, 2007, Mr. Osei said COCOBOD would be collaborating with the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) to deal with the issue.
“We hope that all stakeholders in the industry would operate faithfully and comply with existing regulations. We shall not hesitate to deal drastically with anybody involved in any malpractice. Companies importing unapproved chemicals should stop, because if found their licenses would be withdrawn,” he cautioned.
He maintained that chemicals such as Endosulfan, Cocostar, Durban and Pyrinex because they contain chlopyrifos, Fenvalerate, Thionex, Thiodan, Callifan and all primiphosmethyl based chemicals are banned for use on cocoa.
He confirmed that the new producer price of cocoa has been increased from ¢9, 150,000 (GH¢915.00) per metric tonne to ¢9,500,000 (GH¢950) for the 2007/2008 main crop season. The new price for a bag of 64.0kg is now ¢593,750.00 (GH¢59.38) as against ¢571,875 (GH¢57.19) previously.
For a load of 30kg the price is ¢285,000 (GH¢28.50) naked ex-scale. It is projected that the output for the 2007/2008 Crop Year will be 650,000 metric tonnes.
Mr. Osei explained that COCOBOD sources funds for cocoa purchases at reasonably low levels because it does not rely on government ex-chequer. He said this year $900 million has been sourced for cocoa purchases.
Touching on the production of jute bags for bagging of cocoa, the CEO disclosed that two companies have approached his office to do so, and that considering what has been submitted by one of them, there is the possibility of seeing a jute company by the end of next year.
Mr. Osei said in order to promote local consumption of cocoa; COCOBOD is talking to the School Feeding Programme to include a cup of cocoa drink in the diet of the children.
The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Prof. George Gyan-Baffour urged all stakeholders to cooperate to ensure a smooth take-off and a successful season.
He announced that government will spend approximately ¢160.24 billion (GH¢16.024 million) to pay bonuses, in its resolve to ensure the welfare of the country’s gallant cocoa farmers. “Since the NPP administration came into office in 2001, farmers have been paid bonuses every year except in the 2004/2005 season.
The total amount of bonus payments to farmers is therefore ¢769.14 billion (GH¢76.914 million). Another bonus will also be paid next year July to ensure that farmers have adequate money during the season,” he said.
Prof. Gyan-Baffour announced that payment to other stakeholders in the cocoa industry have also been reviewed upwards to ensure that their business remain profitable and to ensure that the industry is able to sustain the gains made in the past seven years.
According to him, the $900 million raised by COCOBOD for purchasing operations is the highest facility ever in the history of the cocoa industry and demonstrates the progress made in the sector and the confidence reposed in the economy by the international financial community.
“We would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the LBCs to pay farmers promptly for cocoa purchased from them.”
3 comments:
I am sorry that Ghana does not allow Endosulfan to be used on cocoa. Endosulfan is a versatile and economical pesticide. It is useful in IPM and IRM. It is relatively safe for pollinators, and there are genotypes of parasites and predators that tolerate it. Endosulphan can be used for cocoa without persistence of harmful residues.
I am delighted to hear that Ghana has banned endosulfan use on cocoa. It is a truly toxic and environmentally damaging pesticide that kills beneficial insects as well as pests. It lingers as residues in food all over the world. The question now is when will Ghana completely ban endosulfan, joining the 58 other countries that already have. That is the only way to ensure it is not illegally used on cocoa.
The Internet is free for the truth and for dromology as well. Please consider the following facts with respect to the post of Dr Watts:
1. Endosulfan residues can be degraded by pH adjustment or through a variety of microbes. These methods are documented.
2. Endosulfan is relatively safe for honeybees. There are genotypes of Trichogramma and Chrysoperla with specific tolerances. Again, these facts are published in scientific literature.
3. Endosulfan will not linger in food if the PHI is observed. Endosulfan is not different from any other pesticide in this respect.
Post a Comment