Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister of Food and Agriculture, has expressed optimism about more youth nurturing interest in cocoa farming following the launch of the Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme.

He described the introduction of the Scheme as a laudable idea as it would secure the financial future of the Ghanaian cocoa farmer.

Established in pursuant to Section 26 of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Law (PNDC Law 81), the initiative was described as one of the most decisive pro-poor agro intervention programmes by the NPP Administration.

Dr Afriyie Akoto, who was speaking at the launch of the Scheme in Kumasi, said the Law mandated the Board to establish a contributory insurance for cocoa farmers to enable them enjoy a decent pension.