Some cocoa farmers in the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region have blamed the increasing incidents of cocoa smuggling on delayed payment by COCOBOD.

According to them, it takes months for the Produce Buying Company (PBC) to pay after they have taken delivery of their commodities at the various weighing sheds.

The farmers have therefore entreated the government to institute sustainable funding systems and ensure the PBC pays them upfront after purchasing their beans, to enhance their livelihoods.

Residents of the Kadjebi District of the Oti Region have long survived on cocoa farming.

However, in recent times, farmers have indicated that they are facing hardships due to delayed payments by the PBC. In some situations, it may take up to about six months for the PBC to pay for cocoa supplied.

Growing interest in dealing with unauthorized cocoa buyers

The Chief Cocoa Farmer of the Dodi Papase Cocoa District, Samuel Fato, explained how the development is gradually leading to growing interest in dealing with non-certified buyers who buy and smuggle the cocoa beans into neighboring Togo.

“We harvest cocoa but selling has become difficult, so if you are there and someone wants to buy the beans, why won't you sell to him. Why won't you sell to them? You will trade with them because your family needs money to survive”, he said.

“With this, I can say it is the government or the COCOBOD that is rather promoting the smuggling of the cocoa beans”, he stressed.

Adjusting of scales at PBC shed

He further claimed that the scales at the PBC shed have been adjusted to rob the farmers.

“Every farmer knows the amount he will get from the sales of his harvest. The government provided me with a scale which I use to weigh the sacks of beans of the farmers before they proceed to the PBC shed.

“But anytime they send the produce there, it is short of about 5 kilos because they have adjusted the scales. Due to this, the farmers have become reluctant to deal with the PBC”, he narrated.

Cocoa input subsidy

The 1998 first runner-up National Best Farmer, Nicholas Fato, advised the government to engage the chief cocoa farmers on the inputs to be subsidized to save the government some funds which can be channeled into the purchasing of the beans.

He also reiterated the development of farmers dealing with unauthorized people due to hardships, adding that this among others has led to the youth refusing to engage in farming.

Authorities must be up to task

He grieved the development and entreated the government to ensure the PBC is adequately resourced to pay farmers upfront.

“Actually the resetting of the scales, the government must take a second look. Personally, I have seen the Marketing Manager, which means the standard board too is involved, somebody is not doing his job. COCOBOF knows that some people are compromised at the borders, somebody is not doing their work there.

"So, it means they know every problem, but they refuse to know that the farmers don't have money. So, if it is the Ministry of Finance that is raising the money, today, this week, the farmers should be paid, otherwise, we will all march down to COCOBOD for a demonstration. I will lead and sponsor them”, he emphasized.

He concluded by advising the government to ensure the resetting agenda is reflected at the COCOBOD where reforms must be instituted to ensure adequate funding of the PBC, and the welfare of the cocoa farmers.

Cocoa production rate declining in the books

This phenomenon of delayed payments by the PBC is widespread across the Volta and Oti Regions, thereby fueling smuggling as farmers prefer selling their beans to unauthorised buyers for quick cash.

Until the government steps in to resolve the delayed payment by the PBC, Ghana’s Cocoa production rates would continue to decline in the books.

This is because the farmers would maintain trading their produce with individuals for quick cash and not the government, to support their livelihoods.