Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, has challenged the notion that cocoa farming is a primary cause of deforestation.
He rather argues that cocoa cultivation can play a pivotal role in enhancing carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change.
Joseph Aidoo’s remarks were delivered during the annual FIG Conference in Accra, where he discussed “African Approaches to Addressing Global Warming and Climate Change.”
He highlighted Ghana’s experience, demonstrating that cocoa can be an effective tool for climate mitigation and environmental adaptation.
“Cocoa is not an agent or a driver for deforestation. For us in Ghana, Cocoa rather is a model or an instrument or a tool for reforestation. Well, the practice in Ghana is agroforestry practice, integrated planting cocoa with cocoyam, with plantain and the economic trees, trees like the emery, like the Mahogany and so together’, he said.
Mr. Aidoo also pointed out that various Productivity Enhancement Programmes (PEPs) have been implemented to promote sustainable cocoa production while addressing deforestation concerns.
Over the past seven years, significant investments in policies such as rehabilitation, pruning, hand pollination, and climate-smart and regenerative farming have driven advancements in sustainable cocoa farming practices.
These initiatives not only foster environmental conservation but also provide social safety nets for farmers and local communities.
Aidoo emphasised COCOBOD’s goal of economizing land use through ‘vertical’ cocoa production, which contributes to forest preservation.
He also praised the natural and scientific benefits of cocoa trees, noting their substantial role in carbon sequestration by absorbing carbon dioxide and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“Integrated planting cocoa with cocoyam, with plantain and the economic trees, trees like the emery, like the Mahogany and so together eventually develops into a forest, you know, and that agroforestry helps in carbon sequestration.
And this wasn’t known to the world outside there. Everybody thought that cocoa was causing deforestation, whereas it is not so”, he noted.
Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
