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Cargill Ghana Limited has disbursed ¢ 6 million GH to more than 19,000 cocoa farmers for this year’s cocoa season through its Licensed Buying Company (LBC).
“This premium payment is part of the strategies to incentivize farmers to adopt sustainable production practices and support their livelihoods according to the Cargill Cocoa Promise.”
Samuel Apana, Country Sustainability Officer, Cargill Ghana Limited, in a statement to the GNA in Accra, said that Cargill was working with Ghanaian cocoa farmers to implement a sourcing model that brings benefits to the sector.
“We are in our fifth year of sustainable cocoa sourcing under our unique sourcing approach, which combines new high-tech acquisitions with the LBC model of direct sourcing and collaboration with farmers and farmer groups and I am pleased to see that it is working well,” He explained.
Apana said: “Our brave farmers have been at the center of this success story and we are working with them on a daily basis to ensure that our sourcing model not only generates income for them, but also contributes to maintaining their farms and livelihoods. and sector in general “
Mr. Martin Anane, Director of Cocoa Sourcing, CKSL, LBC at Cargill, explained that the purchasing process is “fully electronic money”, which seeks to allow Cargill to pay farmers directly by electronic transfer.
“It is unique in that it provides a high level of transparency, traceability and security for farmers, the LBC and other stakeholders. Taking advantage of technology, 90 percent of leading farmers have also received training on the use of mobile devices (tablets), ”Anane noted.
According to Mr. Anane, a total of 30,000 cocoa farmers in 10 districts benefited from the Cargill Cocoa Promise sustainability interventions in Ghana.
He said that with individual training supported by the Agricultural Development Plan, the professionalism of farmers increased, leading to better productivity and ultimately higher incomes and better living conditions for farmers.
Mentioning the payment made to farmers this year, Aedo van der Weij, Managing Director (MD) of Cargill Ghana, said the figure represented a 12 percent increase in payment for the 2018/2019 cocoa season, which indicates the company’s ongoing efforts to deliver greater value to farmers within its supply network.
The Managing Director said: “The impact of the Cargill Kokoo Sourcing model on the lives of farmers and their communities has been significant and this has been reflected in the growing number of farmers joining our network.”
According to him, Cargill was working with our nonprofits and NGO partners around the world to help address food safety, health and safety needs and industry challenges due to the spread of COVID-19.
He said that Cargill had committed $ 35 million to COVID-19 relief and recovery efforts through global and regional partnerships, product donations and personal donations from employees, adding that “our response is guided by our purpose to nurture the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. “
“We are inspired by the medical professionals, first responders, workers and farmers in our communities who make sure our essential needs are met.
“Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by the virus as we continue to work with our partners in global and local relief efforts,” he added.
Commenting on the impact of the premium payment, Chief Farmer Solomon Duku expressed his gratitude to Cargill for the support, adding that the farmers would not disown the relationship with Cargill.
“Personally, I have experienced great value for my cocoa beans and for farmer interventions on livelihoods, agricultural development, community support and education on sustainable agriculture. I feel the same emotion with all the farmers, who sell their beans to Cargill. That is why we have chosen to remain loyal to Cargill and to encourage everyone else who is not selling to Cargill to do the same, ”said Mr. Duku.
Commenting on the impact of the premium payment, Mr. Duku expressed his gratitude to Cargill for the support, adding that the farmers will not deny their relationship with Cargill.
As part of fulfilling the company’s commitment to support the Government against the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Cargill Ghana donated to the National COVID-19 Trust Fund, assorted Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth ¢ 100,000.00 GH.
Hand washing soaps, hand towels and ‘veronica buckets’ were delivered to some 30,000 cocoa farmers and 316 communities in cocoa growing areas in the North Western Region to educate farmers on COVID-prevention protocols. 19, especially the importance of hand washing.
Cargill Ghana also relayed the COCOBOD voice message to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to more than 15,000 cocoa farmers to raise awareness of the virus and sensitize them on hand washing, social distancing and other hygiene protocols to prevent the spread of the virus.
In Tema, where the Cargill Ghana plant is located, essential food packages were provided to more than 1000 families during the shutdown, while PPE and infrared thermometers were also donated to the Tema Metro to be distributed to the health facilities of the city.
In concert with the Ghana Free Zone Board, cocoa products were delivered to Muslim communities during the Ramadan period.
The staff of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research also received cocoa products as a token of appreciation for the work they were doing for Ghana.
Cargill, which employs more than 160,000 employees in 70 countries, seeks to work with the purpose of nurturing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.
Source: GNA
