Myvoicenews.com Voice Of The People
A two-day training workshop to enhance sustainable production of cocoa against climate change has been held in Sefwi Wiawso the Western North Regional capital.
The workshop which was organized by Tropenbos-Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), in collaboration with Ghana Cocobod was attended by 280 field and technical officers of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division(CHED) of Cocobod in the Western North Region.
Speaking at the programme, the Senior Project Officer for Tropenbos-Ghana, Mr Joseph Asante said cocoa has been a major exportable crop to Ghana and contributes tremendously to the economic growth of the country.
He disclosed that a research by some NGO’s and international communities indicate that climate change is posing a challenge to Ghana’s cocoa sector that, if care is not taken Ghana’s cocoa may lose its economic values due to the weather condition.
Besides, the fast depletion of the forest and the illegal mining activities in the cocoa growing areas are also threats.
According to him, the workshop was to intensify the campaign against climate change and build concerted effort to enhance sustainable production.
Participants were introduced to Climate Smart Cocoa Practices to ensure Sustainable Cocoa Production.
Mr Asante was hopeful that the participants would go back to their various communities and train the farmers so that they can adopt climate change in order to ensure sustainable cocoa production in the country.
Kwame Owusu Ansah, the Western North Regional Manager of CHED, lauded the collaborative efforts of COCOBOD and Tropendos- Ghana in making climate change issues practical in cocoa extension delivery.
He urged farmers not to release their farmlands for illegal mining activities since cocoa is a life time property unlike illegal mining.
The participants were greateful to the NGO and Management of Cocobod for such educative programme to abreast them with Climate Smart Cocoa Practice to increase cocoa production in the country.
They also pledged to ensure that the farmers in their various areas of operations would benefit from the skills acquired from the workshop.
By: Akwasi Nuako/Atta Agyeaman.
(Sefwi Wiawso)
