Effect of storage and transportation challenges of Lbcs on the quality and postharvest losses of Cocoa Beans from Enchi A, Enchi B And Sefwi Wiawso Cocoa Districts in the Western Region of Ghana

Cocoa is Ghana’s main export crop and the country is renowned for its quality cocoa beans leading to a priced premium on the international market. Government involvement through Quality Control Company (QCC) of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has provided the necessary quality assurance for the local and external markets. Cocoa quality checks at the farm gate, buying centers at the village level and Take-Over Centres (TOCs) for storage and subsequently export has helped to maintain produce quality. Notwithstanding the good reputation of Ghana’s cocoa and the efforts made by COCOBOD to maintain quality, there are indications that quality can be compromised in the face of market liberalization. This study aimed at assessing the various challenges associated with the storage and transportation of cocoa by the LBCs in Enchi A, Enchi B and Sefwi Wiawso Cocoa Districts in the Western Region of Ghana and how these challenges affected cocoa quality and losses. One hundred and fifty Depots(50 depots from each district) were randomly selected through multi stage sampling procedure which included purposive and simple random sampling techniques and their Depot Keepers or District Officers were interviewed. Samples of cocoa beans were also drawn from the selected depots and analyzed per the quality standards of Ghana’s Cocoa industry Regulation (Consolidated) Decree 1968. Results were analyzed with SPSS version 17. A chi-Square test (value of 1.5762) performed on the forms of storage losses (Mould, insect infestations, theft) showed that, such losses significantly (p≤0.002) contributed to the losses in storage in all the three cocoa Districts. Additionally, a Chi-square test (value of 1.4365), performed on rejections due to transportation challenges for the three cocoa districts showed that the identified defects due to transportation challenges (rain-wet bags, dirty sacks, oil stain sacks, torn/burst sacks and weight loss) significantly (p≤0.005) contributed the rejections at the port. The study revealed that, storage procedures and transportation processes and the various challenges identified, influenced the percentage of cocoa beans rejected at the Take-Over Centre. The significant difference (0.21 at 95% confidence level) between the field and laboratory work (analyzed cocoa samples from depots) and the Takoradi port records on cocoa rejections showed that the various challenges affecting cocoa in storage; insect infestation, moudiness, and rodents attacks and transportation challenges such as rain-wet of cocoa in transit, dirty, torn bags together with poor roads as identified in the research study played a significant role in losses of cocoa beans. From the study, estimated losses due to the identified storage and transportation challenges by the LBCs in the Sefwi Wiawso cocoa district was 2,490 tonnes (39,840 Bags) valued at Gh¢354,548.55 for the 2011/2012 cocoa season, followed by Enchi A with a loss of 2625.7 tonnes (42,011.2 Bags) valued at Gh¢ 305,122.39 and then Enchi B cocoa district losing 2353.4 tonnes of cocoa (37654.4 Bags) valued at Gh¢278,980.84.To this end, it could be said that addressing the identified storage and the transportation challenges these three cocoa districts alone could increase Ghana’s cocoa output by about 7,469 tonnes per season.

Source: KNUST