Cocoa was and still continues to be Ghana’s main export and central to its development with reforms and strategies to alleviate poverty since it attained independence in 1957.
Cocoa is the dominant cash crop in the Daboase district however just like other cocoa growing districts farmers are saddled with some challenges including low yield of dried cocoa beans per hectare which translates into low incomes, disease and pests, high cost of labour, lack of credit to farmers and the threat of the activities of illegal mining among others.
The upshot from the above is that the cocoa farmers need to be supported financially if they are to lead a meaningful life and be able to provide for their households and educate their wards
To support cocoa farmers in this regard among other interventions, the Ghana cocoa board through the cocoa health and Extension Division provides additional livelihood trainings or programs for cocoa farmers across the entire landscape.
And as such our hardworking Community Extension agents, Gender coordinator in the Daboase district with the support and partnership from Goshen Global Vision an NGO operating within the District have been training our cherished cocoa farmers in several additional livelihood programs.
The trainings include soap or detergent making, livestock, beekeeping, maize farming, cassava, gari processing, plantain, rice, vegetables farming, fish farming bee keeping and others.
These innovative programs or trainings provide them with the skills and knowledge needed to raise additional income and support their families and farming activities.
It is widely accepted or known that Cocoa farming most especially during the minor season can be a challenging making it difficult for farmers to make ends meet, let alone invest in their farms and improve their livelihoods.
However, with the introduction and intensification of additional livelihood trainings by the cocoa health and extension division, farmers in the Daboase ched District are now better equipped to manage these challenges and improve their financial stability.
The additional livelihood trainings have been a game-changer for many cocoa farmers in the Adaase, Amaye Adukrom Abetemasu, Ateiku, Hemanso, Asratoase, Kwame Asare, Nyekonakpoe, Sekyere Akrofi, communities among others within the Daboase District.
By providing farmers with the skills and knowledge needed to engage in alternative income-generating activities through our industrious and committed community extension agents, these programs are helping to diversifying income streams of our cocoa farmers and also improve their financial stability.
The additional income generated from these alternative activities can also help cocoa farmers to better manage their finances, invest in their farms, and improve their overall well-being.
The many of the alternative livelihood programs, such as maize farming, cassava, plantain, rice, and cabbage farming others also improves the food security in the district and nutrition among cocoa farming households.
Our cherished clienteles are already reaping the benefits of these additional livelihood trainings, aimed at diversifying their income streams and improving their overall well-being.
On the programâs success stories, several cocoa farmers in the Daboase District have already begun reaping the benefits of the additional livelihood trainings or programs. For example:
Madam Comfort Ayew, a farmer from the Kwame Asare community and her colleagues belonging to Nyame tiase cooperative, have started a successful soap-making or detergent business, which has enabled them to raise additional income and support their families and cocoa farming activities.
Mr Richard Owusu cocoa farmer from the Adaase community has started a 3acre cabbage farming to provide him with an additional source of income.
Seddick Aware Kakra the chief farmer and five other farmers at Adaase and Kwame asare community has recently benefited from the additional livelihood trainings on bee keeping with support from Goshen Global Vision (GGV)and have started bee keeping at their respective cocoa farms which is giving them good incomes.
Hemanso Eagle cocoa women group are now into liquid soap making. They sell it during market days at Ateiku and Twifo Praso on Mondays and Tuesdays, respectively.
Kwame Larbi Odo na Eye women cocoa cooperative also doing actively good on the implementation on additional livelihood trainings given them by planting cassava as a group on a 5 acre farm .They normally harvest and sell during market days at Ateiku .Few among them too are into the liquid soap and bar soap making which gives them additional income especially during the minor season.
In addition, Mr. Adzi and Mr. Addo, both dedicated farmers and long-time residents of Wassa Essamang, have embraced fish farming as a vital part of their livelihoods. Their decision to diversify into aquaculture was influenced by additional training programs aimed at enhancing their agricultural skill sets.
By incorporating fish farming into their operations, they aim not only to bolster the nutritional intake of their families but also to generate a supplementary source of income. This initiative allows them to provide a more balanced diet for their households while creating financial stability through the sale of fish in the local market to mention a few
Their commitment to improving their families’ well-being through innovative agricultural practices showcases their resilience and adaptability in the face of economic challenges.
The additional livelihood trainings being carried out in the Daboase District are a testament to the innovative approaches being taken to support cocoa farmers in Ghana through the provision of cocoa farmers with the skills and knowledge needed to engage in alternative income-generating activities.
These programs are helping to improve financial stability, enhance food security, and promote sustainable livelihoods among cocoa farming households.
By: Kabiru Mohammed
Daboase CHED district Extension Coordinator
Cocoa Health and Extension Division of COCOBOD
