This year’s light crop cocoa season has been closed from today, Thursday, September 17, 2020.
“It is hereby notified for the general public’s information that purchases for the 2020 Light Crop Season would cease at close of business today, Thursday, 17th September 2020,” a statement from the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) noted.
Ghana’s cocoa season runs two cycles consisting of the main crop season and the light crop season.
Harvest from the main crop season is mainly exported while harvest from the light crop season is discounted for local grinders.
The light crop season usually lasts for 11 weeks from June to September, while the main crop season lasts from October to May.
COCOBOD said that it will however allow Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to obtain returns from upcountry centres by extending the date by one more week.
“In order to assist the Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to obtain the final returns from upcountry stations, the Ghana Cocoa Board has decided that returns on the declared purchases will be accepted up to 4:00 pm on Thursday, 24th September 2020.”
For this crop season, COCOBOD intends to purchase one million metric tonnes of cocoa beans, a target which has not been achieved since the 2010/2011 crop year.