By
Benjamin Akoto, GNA
Suhum (E/R), Aug. 13, GNA – Mondelez
International through the Cocoalife programme has donated farm inputs worth GH¢240,000.00
to the Suhum Kraboa Coltar Cooperative Cocoa Farmers Union.
The inputs, which included spraying machine,
motorized sprayers and pruners, chemicals, helmets, Wellington boots and
goggles, are to help enhance the work of the farmers in the Union.
The inputs are supposed to benefit over 2000
cocoa farmers in the 41 societies under the Union.
The donation also formed part of activities to
mark the 10th anniversary of the Cocoalife programme across the country.
Cocoalife is a sustainability project by
Mondelez international, one of the largest cocoa buyer and producer of
chocolate in the world.
The aim of the project is to ensure that,
cocoa farmer, their children and the communities, thrive to sustain quality
production of cocoa in Ghana.
The Country Lead of Mondelez International
Cocoalife Programme, Mrs Yaa Peprah Amekudzi who made the donation, said it was
also to motivate the farmers and help in the improvement of their farms to help
increase their yields.
She said time has come for modern technology
to be used in Cocoa farming, because that was the surest way to ensure its
sustainability and development for the needed benefits to be derived.
Mrs Amekudzi explained that Cocoalife over the
past 10 years ensured that farmers increased their production and strengthen
the cooperative unions, which were rapidly initiating development projects in
their various communities.
She said the Cocoalife project started with
100 cocoa farming communities from seven districts across the country, however,
the communities had increased to 447 from 15 districts nationwide.
The President of the Suhum- Kraboa- Coltar
Cooperative Cocoa Farmers Union, Mr Francis Teinor thanked the Cocoalife
programme for the enormous contribution and support they had brought into the
lives of cocoa farmers.
He appealed to Government to support cocoa growing
areas with the needed infrastructural and developmental projects, to serve as
motivation for the youth to stay in the rural communities rather than migrate
to the urban cities.
As part of the donation, the team from
Mondelez International CocoaLife programme and the Suhum Cooperative Union
inspected a three unit classroom block for the Ayisikrom community, one of the
Cocoalife beneficiary communities.
The project, an initiative of the Suhum
Cooperative Union, cost GHC 50,000.00, and supported by Mondelez International
through the Cocoalife programme.
The project when completed is expected to
serve close to 200 Junior High School pupils in the area.
GNA