Ghana Agriculture News-The President of the Kuapa Kookoo Farmers Union (KKFU), Madam Fatima Ali has revealed the outfit’s decision to pay pensions to its member farmers who retire from active farming.
Addressing the media at a special soiree held in Kumasi, Madam Ali noted that the pensions is to ensure that members have some livelihoods to live on after being part of the Union and also having participated in the group’s activities for a considerable period of time.
The President, who recently won another four year mandate on behalf of the other executive also disclosed partnerships the company has reached with MTN-Ghana to ensure members have access to mobile phones that is toll free to enable them communicate and attend to pressing needs on the farm.
She also hinted of plans to fast track the period by which Kuapa Kokoo pays bonus to members aside the one government pays to cocoa farmers in the country for the work they do.
‘’We are committed to ensuring our member farmers benefit from every initiative the new executive are coming up with so that we can entice young and enterprising youth into our business and in farming in general’’, Madam Fatima posited.
SENSITIZATION DRIVES:
The President hinted of plans by the new executive to intensify efforts in upgrading the knowledge of its union members.
Sensitization forums, field education trips as well as workshops will be periodically organized to ensure farmers apply the right kind of knowledge in their business, Madam Fatima noted.
The Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union, Madam Fatima mentioned is determined to make its farmers all round in terms of knowledge and effectiveness so that they can produce on a large scale and shore up their yearly yields.
She promised to provide the union’s farmers with improved seedlings and extension services so as to enable the group cultivate on large scale all year round.
‘’I am happy to inform the media that these new executive is determined to apply every mechanism aimed at making the work of our farmers worthwhile as we deal with welfare issues, improved working conditions, pensions and incentive packages for the collective good of our members’’, Madam Fatima intimated.
MANAGING DIRECTOR:
Hinting about the new direction the Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Company Limited, a licensed buying company with links to Kuapa Kokoo Union, the Managing Director, Samuel Adim Addo, reiterated the commitment of his outfit to make the activities of the company transparent.
He noted the new executive of the Union as well as the company is resolved to fight all corrupt practices bedeviling the association.
With the introduction of technology in the form of Tele-agric and Tele-medicine, the MD noted Kuapa Kokoo is bound to do well in business from now.
In the 2017-2018 large crop season, the MD noted the farmer union was able to achieve 99% of its target as the LBC purchased a total of 59, 096 metric tonnes of cocoa from its farmers across the country.
He noted the partnership with the Millennium Promise Alliance, a health focused organization is yielding dividends as farmers have enough incentives to do well knowing issues about their health and welfare is safe.
MEDIA:
Leading discussions at the forum, Chief Nat Nsarkoh, Director Millennium Promise Alliance tasked the media to show particular interest in the activities of Kuapa Kokoo.
This, he noted will afford them the opportunity to sell the message and vision of the union to the public so as to encourage people into farming and into the right association of farmers.
The transparent nature of Kuapa Kokoo and its activities, Chief Nat opined makes it imperative for the media to zoom in on them so that they could be used as a yardstick in measuring the success of co-operative farmer groups in the country.
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