“Organic” is more than a feel-good buzzword or a promotion strategy; it has concrete real-world profits for everyone involved, including mother nature herself.
• If one were to speak to the farmers who have turned their plantations away from conventional farming methods towards doing things organically, one is immediately overcome with tales of farmers who had a litany of health complaints, thanks to the exposure to chemical agents of herbicides, pesticides, and artificial fertilisers. Now, under organic conditions, there is an overall health improvement among the farmers, proving that going organic is not just an environmentally conscious choice; but also, a humanitarian one.
• The shift to organic farming practices served as a welcome invitation to insect life. The forests are teeming with birdlife again, and pollinating insects are making a comeback. The fields are alive with the chatter of birds and the hum of beneficial insects. The resurgence in biodiversity stands as a testament to the resilience of nature if only given a chance.
The hardened and lifeless soil in which the cocoa grew now teems with life and vitality. The soil is no longer hardpacked but permeable, accepting a plethora of organisms that contribute to a healthier ecosystem.
This enriched soil structure further enhances water retention, nutrient supplies, and overall crop health; all vital qualities which define productive and sustainable agriculture.
• The most profound evidence of the benefits of organic cocoa farming lies in the trees themselves. A walk through the farms reveals the cocoa trees with vibrant green leaves, a stark contrast to the jaundiced yellow foliage which sprouted under conventional farming practices. And the yield itself is the proof of the pudding: pods no longer just grow on the branches but even on the very trunks of the trees, delivering a higher crop yield.
Organic cocoa farming in Ghana paints a picture of a more sustainable, harmonious, and thriving agricultural landscape. It highlights how moving away from chemical-dependent practices benefits not only the environment but also the well-being of farmers and the health of cocoa trees.
Organic farming yields more nutritious and safe food. The popularity of organic food is growing dramatically as consumer seeks the organic foods that are thought to be healthier and safer. Thus, organic food perhaps ensures food safety from farm to plate. The organic farming process is more eco-friendly than conventional farming. Organic farming keeps soil healthy and maintains environment integrity thereby, promoting the health of consumers. Moreover, the organic produce market is now the fastest growing market all over the world and it is time for Ghana and the whole of Africa to adopt. Organic agriculture promotes the health of consumers of a nation, the ecological health of a nation, and the economic growth of a nation by income generation holistically.
We can conclude that encouraging organic farming in Ghana and the whole of Africa can build a nutritionally, ecologically, and economically healthy nation and continent in near future.
At ICRAWE, we say organic cocoa farming is not just good for the planet, good for the people, we also train and coach farmers to produce cocoa in a more sustainable and ethical way.