By Kortu Henry
Cocoa Farmers in Kolahun District have organized themselves into a Union to counter what they called “poor” pricing and also seek the wellbeing of members, a representative of the farmers, Wilfred Ballah has disclosed.
Ballah spoke on Harleyngee Community Radio on Wednesday evening, saying the union currently has ten memberships. He noted that the initiative aims to help cocoa farmers secure better buying prices for their produce, considering the high labor involved in cocoa farming.
He lamented that many cocoa farmers are currently disadvantaged by unstable and low market prices controlled by buyers. “The price of cocoa presently ranges between LD 300, LD 400, and LD 450 per kilogram, he said, describing the situation as inadequate and unfair to farmers.
He noted that the poor pricing system has made it difficult for cocoa farmers to pay their children’s school fees or build decent homes, despite their hard work. “Buyers decide whatever price they want to give, while they enjoy the profits and live comfortably, even more than the farmers who do the actual labor,” he said.
To address this challenge, Ballah stated that the Union plans to collectively seek partnership with Liberian-owned cocoa exporters to establish a better and more transparent buying system that will improve farmers’ livelihoods.
Ballah announced that registration is currently free of charge for, and current membership stands at ten. The ten members, he said, are committed to reaching out to interested farmers across the district, noting that membership is currently limited to cocoa farmers within Kolahun District.
Other requirements for membership include active cocoa farmers currently producing quality cocoa. Farms must meet acceptable production standards, including proper farm management practices, and applicants must not be cocoa buyers. Members should also be willing to cooperate with the Union and make contributions when necessary.
