A frustrated cocoa farmer has revealed her plans to abandon cocoa cultivation for cannabis farming if the government fails to honour its payment promises.
Speaking during the Minority Caucus’s visit to cocoa-growing communities in the Ashanti Region, the farmer did not hold back.
She explained that cocoa has become unreliable, and the quick returns from cannabis are too tempting to ignore.
“According to her, if the cocoa payment has failed, then she will shift into cultivating herbs (wee) because the boys like buying it,
“I will venture into cannabis cultivation because it offers a faster turnaround than cocoa,” she told the visiting team.
She noted that while cocoa takes months to yield returns, cannabis is ready for harvest within three months, a faster turnaround that appeals to her in the face of economic hardship.
Her remarks have drawn concern among stakeholders, who worry that farmer frustration could prompt more growers to engage in illegal ventures if the cocoa sector does not undergo urgent reforms.
