The Senior Trader of Cocoa & Olam Foods Ingredients, Mr. Vignesh Thirukonda has commended cocoa farmers in Ghana for the vital roles they play in producing cocoa of consistent quality, distinctive flavour and excellent fermentation characteristics, noting that these qualities make Ghana cocoa highly valued in international markets.
Mr. Thirukonda made this remark when a group of national best cocoa farmers from Ghana, accompanied by officials of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) visited Olam’s facilities in the United Kingdom as part of an educational tour of the country to deepen their understanding of the global cocoa industry, chocolate production and the importance of maintaining Ghana’s reputation for high-quality cocoa.
The Olam representative used the visit to share insights into the company’s operations in Ghana and other parts of the world, explaining it is involvement in cocoa purchasing, processing, logistics and sustainability initiatives. He also highlighted the importance of working closely with farmers to improve agricultural practices, strengthen productivity and address challenges affecting cocoa production.
He called collaboration among farmers, COCOBOD, government and private-sector stakeholders to overcome cocoa sector challenges and to sustain Ghana’s competitiveness in the global cocoa market.
The farmers’ visit provided the award-winning farmers with an opportunity to interact with industry professionals, learn about cocoa bean sourcing and processing, and appreciate how the cocoa they cultivate contributes to chocolate products enjoyed by consumers around the world.
Speaking on behalf of the team, the Head of Public Affairs at COCOBOD, Lawyer Jerome K. Sam, expressed appreciation to Olam for its continued commitment to hosting Ghana’s National Best Cocoa Farmers for educational visits.
He acknowledged the company’s important role in Ghana’s cocoa value chain and described the engagement as a valuable opportunity for farmers to learn from an international cocoa industry player.
Mr. Sam also appealed to Olam to consider qualified young people from cocoa-growing communities when employment opportunities arise, stressing that local communities should benefit from the economic activities taking place in their areas.
He further encouraged continued knowledge-sharing to help farmers explore value-addition opportunities, including small-scale chocolate production, as a means of generating additional income.
The farmers used the opportunity to share their experiences and the practices that have contributed to their achievements.
Madam Cecilia Adeb, 2025 Most Enterprising Female Cocoa Farmer described how regular weeding, pruning, fertiliser application and the gradual replacement of ageing cocoa trees have helped her maintain her farms.
She also highlighted the importance of careful post-harvest handling, explaining that she uses a stick rather than a knife to open cocoa pods to avoid damaging the beans and relies on natural sunlight for drying to preserve quality.
For his part, Mr. Edward Kwame Yeboah 2025 National Best Cocoa Farmer attributed his productivity records to adherence to training and support from COCOBOD’s extension officers.
He explained that adopting recommended practices, including pruning, pollination, organic manure application and fertilisation, has helped him achieve yields of approximately 25 to 26 bags per hectare.
These accounts by the farmers demonstrated the importance of practical knowledge, technical support and the adoption of good agricultural practices in improving yields and maintaining cocoa quality.
The engagement reaffirmed the central role of cocoa farmers in Ghana’s cocoa industry and highlighted the need for sustained collaboration to preserve the quality, competitiveness and long-term sustainability of Ghanaian cocoa.
