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A prestigious group of Ghana's national best cocoa farmers, currently on an enlightening tour in the United Kingdom, recently made a significant visit to Mars Wrigley, the world's largest chocolate manufacturing company. This unprecedented factory tour was a pivotal part of the planned activities for the award-winning farmers during their stay in the UK.

The tour offered the farmers a firsthand experience of the intricate chocolate manufacturing processes at Mars Wrigley, enabling them to engage with the company's personnel, share their unique insights, and glean practical knowledge from industry experts.

Prior to the tour, Ms. Ellen Jacobs, the Global Corporate Affairs Manager overseeing cocoa at Mars Wrigley, lauded the exceptional dedication of the cocoa farmers in providing the essential raw material for the global chocolate industry. She commended the farmers for their pivotal role in sustaining Mars Wrigley's operations and emphasised their positive impact on society through job creation.

Ms. Jacobs underscored Mars Wrigley's commitment to fostering a modern cocoa ecosystem aimed at addressing challenges in the cocoa supply chain through innovative research initiatives. She highlighted the company's dedication to supporting cocoa farmers in transitioning from poverty to prosperity by offering crucial resources such as fair pricing, knowledge sharing, and motivation to enhance cocoa production.

Moreover, she emphasised the significance of tackling issues like the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSVD), a prevalent threat to cocoa production in various countries including Ghana. Ms. Jacobs revealed Mars Wrigley's innovative CSSVD detection kit, designed to facilitate early identification of the virus and mitigate its impact on cocoa trees. She called for collaboration with COCOBOD to implement this pioneering solution effectively.

Mr. Fiifi Boafo, the Head of Corporate Affairs at the Ghana Cocoa Board and leader of the delegation, expressed gratitude to Mars Wrigley for hosting the farmers at the Mars Chocolate School and facilitating engaging interactions with the company's dedicated staff. He commended Mars Wrigley for their proactive approach in developing the CSSVD detection kit as an important stride towards combating the virus's detrimental effects on cocoa farmers.

Mr. Boafo reiterated the Ghana Cocoa Board's eagerness to collaborate with Mars Wrigley to ensure widespread access to the CSSVD kits for early disease detection, recognizing the grave threat CSSVD poses to Ghana's cocoa industry. He affirmed the industry's commitment to finding sustainable solutions to safeguard cocoa production against the challenges posed by such diseases.

In conclusion, this collaborative endeavor between Ghana's top cocoa farmers and Mars Wrigley symbolizes a shared commitment to advancing cocoa farming practices, enhancing sustainability in the industry, and overcoming critical challenges to ensure the prosperity of cocoa farmers and the longevity of Ghana's cocoa sector.