ACCRA, April 4, 2011- Cocoa output from Ghana broke a record less than halfway into its year-long season.
Declared cocoa purchases by private buyers to Ghana's industry regulator Cocobod -- the best reflection of output in the West African state -- reached 743,603 tonnes by March 24 since the start of the season in October.
According to industry data, the increasing output is up 44 percent over the same period last year, and beats a 2005-06 full-season record of 740,000 tonnes.
Ghana is the world's second-largest cocoa grower behind neighbouring Ivory Coast, and is seeking to ramp up production dramatically through enhanced farm husbandry, increased fertiliser application and by boosting farmer incentives.
Total purchases for the twenty-fifth week of season rose to 9,373 tonnes from 7,543.8 tonnes in week 24, and were significantly higher than the 2,680 tonnes bought in the corresponding week last year.
Cocobod is targeting a record output of at least 850,000 tonnes of cocoa throughout this crop year, citing the adoption of improved farming techniques buoyed by favourable weather conditions.
There were reports of smuggled cocoa flowing into Ghana from top grower Ivory Coast where political unrest as a result of election dispute has paralysed its cocoa industry.
But Cocobod officials have denied the reports, saying any such inflows would not be more than 40,000 tonnes.
Ghana hopes to produce 1 million tonnes of cocoa by 2012.
Last week, deputy Cocobod Executive Yaw Adu-Ampomah told Reuters Cocobod was targetting around 900,000 tonnes of purchases next season=====
