The 2022 National Best Cocoa Farmers have embarked on an educational tour of various cocoa processing facilities in Europe. The tour, part of the awards package provided by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for the farmers’ outstanding contributions to the cocoa industry, aims to deepen their knowledge of the global cocoa value chain.
During the tour, the farmers will gain insights into the roles played by different stakeholders within the global cocoa industry. This experience will further solidify their appreciation for their crucial contributions to the entire process.
The delegation includes three prominent farmers who excelled during the 2021/2022 cocoa farming season: Bismark Fuachie, the 2022 National Best Cocoa Farmer; Joyce Dapaah, the 2022 Most Enterprising Female Cocoa Farmer; and Peter Paintsil, the 2022 Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer.
The tour will take the farmers through some of the most advanced cocoa processing facilities, owned by companies such as Cargill, Cocoa Source, KOA, and others, in Switzerland and the Netherlands. The farmers will witness the various stages of processing, from roasting and grinding to refining and packaging.
They will also have the opportunity to engage with industry experts and learn about the latest innovations in cocoa processing.
“We are excited about the tour and the knowledge we will gain to enrich our understanding of cocoa farming as a business,” Bismark Fuachie said about the tour. By understanding the entire value chain, from farm to finished product, the farmers are expected to return home with renewed inspiration and ideas to improve their farms, thereby contributing to the continued success of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
