The magic dream of attaining 200,000 metric tonnes of cocoa or more by 2008 has been realised. The Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana and the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ananga Clementine Messina who officially launched the 2009/2010 season last week in Monatele, broke the news with all visible anxiety and satisfaction. In effect, statistics from the Cocoa and Coffee Board indicate inter alia that exportable production for 2008/2009 season increased by 9.4 per cent on attractive farm
gate prices. According to the report, production stood at 205,032 metric tonnes up from 187,475 tonnes the year before. Farm gate prices ranged from CFA 575 a kilogramme in the East region to CFA 1,095 a kilogramme in the Western production zone giving an annual farm price of CFA 835 up from CFA 787 the previous season. The present figures, experts say, have surpassed progress made during the past years. Just how production did attain this level considering the hick-ups that continue to reign in the sector is the question on many lips? From every indication, the increase is above all attributed to the effort of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Institute of Agronomic Research and Development (IRAD), and the Cocoa Development Authority (SODECAO) in ??sensitizing and assisting farmers?? on production techniques. Following the agreement government signed with the Cocoa Development Authority (SODECAO), over five million high yielding plants were supplied to farmers at reduced rates for the creation of 3,500 hectares of new farms, Ananga Clementine Messina told farmers at Monatele, stating that this action will continue till 2015. She said CFA five billion will be budgeted to enhance the programme.The new plants together with pesticides, fungicides and cocoa treatment tools will be distributed to farmers for free, she said. That notwithstanding, the overall element as was observed during the last season, is the attractive prices offered to farmers. ??When prices are bad, farmers refuse to even harvest the crop even if it is abundant in the farms??, the General Manager of the Cocoa and Coffee Board, Michael Ndoping, said. One of the measures to be taken during the coming years, if production has to hit 320,000 metric tonnes by 2015 will certainly be to spur farmers with attractive prices. And for this to happen, concerted effort must be made to weed out impostors. Weeding out quacks The existence of fake cocoa dealers have largely contributed to the low quality of beans, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, Minister of Trade said, sounding the last warning to them. Cocoa impostors are known for buying beans that is not properly fermented, well dried and conserved at discouraging prices. They take advantage of the poor situation of the farmers, many of who are ready to give out the crop at giveaway prices to solve pressing issues. As one of the measures to thwart their activities, authorities of the Cocoa and Coffee Board announced the creation of new control posts in Bafoussam, Nkongsamba, Bafia and Ebolowa. The signs of stepping up production are really promising considering that leading producing nations such as Ivory Coast and Ghana are said to be either regressing or stagnating. The fifth position presently occupied by Cameroon will need to be improved upon. The whole issue lies in first identifying the problems thereof, building up practical solutions and ensuring that all projects aimed at achieving this goal are implemented to the fullest. Cocoa is a delicate crop which is loved by both men and insects. The cocoa tree gets attacked by different diseases from the roots up to the branches and the pods. The cocoa farmers are quite aware of that and that is why one of their problems has been getting insecticides for their farms. Last year, in a bid to fight against pest, fungal attacks, and pod diseases, government through the Cocoa and Coffee Plant Protection Project, issued out 60,000 litres of insecticides, 300 sprayers and 150 protection jackets to farmers?? associations. ??The 2008/2009 season was a sad one for me because I received no insecticide from government??, Mvondo Ferdinand, one of the farmers in Moung Village in Lekie Division complained. This is an indication that something will have to be done to rationalise the distribution of inputs. In the same vein, technicians must double their effort in transmitting techniques of applying insecticides on the plant.
