GRi in Parliament 02 – 10 - 2002
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 October 2002- The
Minority group in Parliament on Tuesday, called on the government to increase
producer price of cocoa to stem the smuggling of the commodity to neighbouring
countries.
This, it said, would maximise Ghana's cocoa
output and take advantage of the current high world market price of the
commodity.
In a statement, the Minority spokesman on
cocoa, Mr. I.K.N Ofori, Member of Parliament (MP) for Sefwi-Wiawso said the
increase has become necessary due to the fact that world market prices of cocoa
has risen above 2,000 dollars per tonne.
It said considering Government's policy to pay
farmers between 67 and 70 per cent, of the international market price, a fair
producer price for farmers should be about twelve million cedis per tonne or
745,000 cedis per bag.
The Minority said a timely increase of the
producer price would help check the tide of cocoa smuggling, which was
estimated at 50,000 tons in the last cocoa season. This, according to him would
also motivate the hard working farmers to increase their productivity.
GRi…/
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