The industry is to be deregulated to allow for more private-sector involvement.

The Government took the decision to deregulate the industry based on recommendations made by the United States Agency for International Development, in a recently concluded study. Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton says the move will create an environment for more private-sector involvement to assist in improving production as well as to develop value-added products.

Dynamic sector

"What we hope to come out of the process is a more dynamic sector that is characterised by private capital and initiative and innovation," says Dr Tufton. "And it hopefully will lead to the expansion of the industry which is what we are hoping to achieve."

He says the new measure will also give extensive support to the exportation of cocoa.

Meanwhile, the Government has appointed retired banker, Al Webb, to lead a team to manage the divestment of the Wallenford Coffee Company.

Cabinet recently approved the transfer of assets from the Coffee Industry Board to Wallenford to clear the way for its divestment.

The divestment of the company was announced by Dr Tufton last year, but the process stalled because there was no agreement to allow for the transfer of the Coffee Industry Board's commercial assets to Wallenford.