To attract younger minds and innovation into cocoa farming, there’s a need to encourage the implementation of simple technology on cocoa farms as game-changers for job creation and improving quality of our beans and food sovereignty.
Once cocoa farmers and businesses are paid well, they can choose to invest in how they improve their businesses. There is so much out there to adapt to.
The drawbacks of Ghana’s cocoa economy for the farmers who cultivate the crop; who often harvest never tasted the end product of their crop – chocolate – is discussed in a stirring documentary film which peels back the story on the intrinsic value of cocoa.
On the invitation of Nana Aruna II, Akuwamehene of Akuapem, I got to see the documentary ‘Reclaiming Cocoa’ at a special screening event in honour of Ms. Adele Asante, a Griot whose way with words was featured in the documentary.
There was cacoa-inspired refreshments amid some really stimulating interactive discussion. But, it was the Sacred Pod Breaking ceremony, where we shared some cola, alongside the raw beans from a cocoa pod, that most made my day! It was a beautiful poignant experience to participate in.
Somehow, it presented us with an opportunity to pay homage to all cocoa farmers, who – under the current system of state regulation of their produce – earn very little, whereas those at the consuming end of the value chain of what they toil to produce earn so much more!
