Deputy Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, has expressed concern over the increasing trend of cocoa farmers relinquishing their farms to small-scale illegal miners in exchange for substantial financial gains

The Ayawaso West Wuogon legislator attributed this shift to the low cocoa prices in the country, which leaves farmers struggling to sustain their livelihoods.

During his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, February 25, Mr Dumelo called for improved cocoa pricing to discourage farmers from selling their farmlands to illegal miners.

He stressed that offering competitive prices would incentivize farmers to preserve their lands instead of turning to mining for economic survival.

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“Giving cocoa farmers the right price will deter them from selling their cocoa farms,” Dumelo stated.

He also emphasised the need for better regulations in the mining sector to minimize its adverse effects on agriculture.

“Another crucial step is to properly structure the mining industry so that its operations do not harm cocoa farms. However, the primary issue remains pricing,” he added.