E/R: Cocoa Farmers Threaten To Cut Down Cocoa Trees For Rubber Plantation

Cocoa Farmers in the Eastern Region are calling on government to release funds to the Local Buying Companies to enable them pay for their produce.

Shortage of money at cocoa buying companies is causing a lot of financial constraints to farmers as seek to settle their ward for school .

Over the years, cocoa farmers in the country have been relying solely on the income from their cocoa produce in financing their children’s education. Even though there is Free Senior High School, some amount of money is still needed for provisions and more importantly fees for those in the tertiary institutions.

However, majority of Local Buying Companies in the region have not been able to meet demands of their farmers in terms of payment for the sale of cocoa produce.

MyGhanaMedia.com Community Watch Team Speaking to some farmers in the upper West Akim , Lower West Akim, Birim Central and Ayensuano district expressed their challenges and worries and threaten to cut down their cocoa farms for rubber plantation.

According to them, life has been tough and difficult for them since Christmas . When they send their cocoa produce for money ,then the purchasing clerks tells them there is no money .

“Our problem is that the Purchasing Clerks are not getting money to pay us. I don’t even know how to get money for my son school fees . We are pleading with government to intervene .

“My wife is seriously sick and I don’t have money to send her to hospital for treatment but am keeping dried cocoa produce in the room because the purchasing clerks are claiming there is no money to pay us “. One farmer cry.

Source: MyGhanaMedia.com