Cocoa producers in the region says the increase in price will boost production and increase their living standard.
For the past months, the price of Cocoa beans has witnessed a tremendous increase, with farmers of the South West region expressing gratitude to the government. From less than FCFA 1000, the price per kilogram has witnessed a steady rise to FCFA 1500 and recently FCFA 2100, with more hopes that it will continue to rise in the days ahead. Farmers disclosed that the quantity of Cocoa formerly sold for FCFA 500.000, is now sold for over FCFA 2.000.000. The increase in price according to farmers comes at a time when most producers were at the verge of abandoning their farms due to high cost of pesticides and low price. Farmers in the past years lived in abject poverty, surviving on the mercy of local purchasers for pesticides and other production costs. With this continuous rise in price, farmers say it has come to redeem them from the suffering and hardship of the past and put smiles on their faces. A farmer told this reporter that for the past years, they usually sell their produce and wait for weeks or months before receiving payment. That this year, buyers approach them with cash and both parties bargain for the final price before sales. Also, he stated that buyers pay them cash upon sale. Another farmer stated that it was a nightmare for them when schools were about to resume in September. That most of them send their children to school through loans acquired from produce buyers on high interest rates. Today it is a thing of the past, as they can sell in a better price, receive payment at once and solve their problems. Another positive motivation to farmers is the availability of modern drying facilities created by the government in most production areas of the South West region. These driers have enabled quality drying, giving the farmers the bargaining power for their produce. The provision of pesticides and insecticides by the government to farmers have equally boosted the morals of farmers. Due to poverty and low price, farmers usually depend on buyers for these products. The buyers to maximize profits offers these products to farmers at cut throat price. It was a normal routine for farmers to sell for instance 5 bags of Cocoa, and return home with less than FCFA 150.000, after the buyer must have deducted all debts owed.
Jude EFUTERCHA
