The free fertilizer initiative for cocoa farmers will be reinstated under the next NDC administration, according to Hon. Alhaji Collins Dauda, the member of parliament for Asutifi South Constituency.
He claims that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration has put an extra burden on cocoa farmers by making them financially responsible for their own fertilizer purchases.
He went on to say that many of these farmers cannot afford the fertilizer, which makes it an essential issue.
Speaking to a group of women involved in cocoa farming in Dadiesoaba, Asutifi South District, Alhaji Collins Dauda revealed that he has been receiving complaints from the farmers regarding the smuggling of cocoa input by gag leaders, who are meant to supply the farmers with it for sale.
He made it clear that he had seen the same issues in the Twabidi and Yawbio enclaves, where an officer had smuggled some input and hidden it by the side of the road. When the residents discovered the input and brought it to the attention of the authorities, the officer claimed that the input had fallen from the car but they were unable to see it.
He then counseled Cocoabod to ensurethat pricing are comparable to neighboring nations in order to prevent farmersfrom smuggling cocoa beans there; otherwise, smuggling will continue.
The NPP government, according to Hon. Collins Dauda, is misusing cocoa revenues for development while ignoring cocoa-growing areas.
He recalled the initiatives that were funded by cocoa revenues under the administrations of the late John Atta Mills and Mahama.
Report By: Adwenpa-Hene
