Cocoa farmers in Ghana say payment delays of up to six months are preventing them from harvesting a rain-boosted mid-crop, despite strong yields in the world’s second-largest producer.
Farmers told Reuters this week that the delays have drained their operating funds, leaving them unable to hire labour or cover harvesting costs in Ghana, where the cocoa sector supports the livelihoods of some 800 000 farming families.
“I have cocoa on the trees that needs to be harvested but there is no money to even do that,” said Ghana Cocoa Co-operatives Association Vice President Theophilus Tamakloe, adding it was similar for the group’s more than 340 000 members.
Tamakloe said he has 14 freshly harvested bags weighing 896 kg (nearly a metric ton) in his warehouse that he has refused to hand over to buyers on credit.
“I will only release them to a Licensed Buying Company (LBC) that pays me instantly,” he said. There are currently about 65 LBCs operating in Ghana.
Farmer Abdulai Adoswin said he had already harvested 300 bags this season, up from 190 bags at the same point last year, but warned that further gains depended on prompt payment before the season closes in August or September.
–Reuters–
