Cocoa farming communities across the country are expected to take delivery of assorted items worth US$25,000 to curb the spread of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The donation is under the auspices of Nyonkopa Cocoa Buying Limited and Barry Callebaut Ghana, which are subsidiaries of the Barry Callebaut Group, a global giant in the chocolate industry.
Presenting the items including veronica buckets, liquid soap and tissue rolls to Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for onward distribution to cocoa farming communities at Cocoa House on Wednesday, the Managing Director of Barry Callebaut Ghana, Charity Sackitey, commended the efforts of cocoa farmers maintaining that “cocoa farmers are important in the value chain”.
She also said the donation is very critical as there is an urgent need to help curb the coronavirus so that the cocoa supply chain is not disturbed.
According to her, handwashing is a basic preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19 and “we believe that by this donation and in collaboration with COCOBOD, we are able to support the wellbeing and safety of the cocoa farmers and their families, who are very important partners of Barry Callebaut”.
The MD of Nyonkopa, Dr. Joshy Varkey, also chronicled the immense support the company continue to give to the various health facilities through the company’s monthly ‘Nyonkopa Needy Project’ where every employee contributes at least a day’s salary which is aggregated to procure hospital supplies for the various health facilities in the farming communities.
The Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, added that the government is doing everything possible to break the chain of the spread and a key mode of breaking it is through handwashing.
He urged cocoa farmers to observe the safety protocols by constantly engaging in handwashing and praised Barry Callebaut for their donation.
“We are grateful for all that you are doing and we will make sure that all these items are given to the farmers for their benefit and use”.
BC Ghana and Nyonkopa have been complementing the efforts of COCOBOD and government through farm improvement techniques like under-planting, pruning, community nurseries as well as taking the farmers through various training modules under Barry’s sustainability concept – Cocoa Horizon.