European Union Regulation of Products from Defrosted Areas is a Threat to Ghana's Cocoa Production-SEND GHANA.

The Social Enterprise Development Foundation of Ghana (SEND GHANA), which is a (policy research organization), has noted with anguish that the European Union's regulation to minimize the consumption of products from deforested areas in Africa will have dire consequences on the livelihoods of cocoa farmers in Ghana.

According to SEND Ghana, European Union (EU) regulation is aimed at combating deforestation and directed towards crafting a greener and more sustainable future for all but the regulation will affect cocoa production in the country. 

Speaking at a workshop training for the media and cocoa farmers on the cape coast, the Project Leader for the foundation, Nana Akwasi Barning Ackah explained that, Europe is the largest importer of cocoa beans worldwide, with 61% of global imports, so Ghana's annual cocoa production and income will reduce significantly if the proposal is implemented.

In this view, they are calling on the government to intervene to immediately put up measures to curtail the looming danger and sustain the livelihoods of Ghanaian cocoa farmers. 

He also advised the farmers not to hesitate to engage the media with their grievances because the media can report issues confronting them well if they understand their situations and thus will offer them their platforms to share their concerns. 

Meanwhile, the farmers who participated in the workshop training appealed to the government to increase the producer price of cocoa to  ¢1,000 as the recent hikes in goods and services are crumbling their livelihoods.

Others also called on the government to release the subsidized fertilizer and agrochemicals on time to improve productivity.

Story by Opamago Paparichy.