Dr. Emmanuel Agyemang Dwomoh, the Deputy Chief Executive In-Charge of Agronomy and Quality Control of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has stated that COCOBOD over the years has invested heavily in the provision of fertilizers to improve improve soil fertility and sustainability of cocoa in Ghana.

Dr. Agyemang Dwomoh made the statement when he addressed the 2019 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Annual Cocoa Soils Forum at Teiman-Abokobi in Accra. He emphasized that COCOBOD takes keen interest in the processes that lead to the certification of fertilizers for use by cocoa farmers.

Dr. Dwomoh underscored the fact that everything scientifically possible and environmentally acceptable should be done to safeguard the production and sustainability of cocoa industry in Ghana, considering the role it plays in Ghana’s economy.

“Efforts aimed at improving the cocoa sector will require the collective contribution from both government and the private sector”, he added.

Dr. Dwomoh emphasized that COCOBOD is committed to all programmes geared towards the success of the national effort to improve cocoa production in Ghana, urging all stakeholders to work harder to ensure the success of the cocoa soils project by activating the appropriate monitoring, evaluation and learning tools.

Coordinator for the forum, Dr. Richard Asare mentioned that 3% increase in the production of world cocoa is as a result of clearing natural vegetation. This he said is alarming since this practice will leave forest vegetation depleted.

Mrs. Faustine Asamany, the Acting Deputy Executive Director of the Seed Production Division of COCOBOD challenged the scientists to focus on developing means of getting cocoa leaves, pods and shells to decompose for use as manure to fertilize cocoa farms.

Participants were drawn from the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources, Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), Yara Ghana, Kuapa Kookoo, World Cocoa Foundation (WFC) and Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN).

Also in attendance were cocoa farmers, some researchers and other cocoa industry players.