Mr Adamu Alimiyao- Baba, Boadua District Manager of the Cocoa
Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) Unit of the Ghana Cocoa Board
(COCOBOD), said the SSVD was rampant in that area and the only way to
protect affected farms was to cut down the diseased trees.
Mr Alimiyao- Baba was addressing a farmers rally at Quashie in
the West Akyem Municipality on Friday to educate them on the
devastating nature of the disease and modern farming practices to
maximize cocoa yield.
He said affected farmers would be compensated.
Mr Alimiyao-Baba said COCOBOB had targeted the production of one
million tons of cocoa this year and advised the farmers to heed to
good agricultural practices for the set goal to be realised.
He advised the farmers to form co-operatives to enable them to
benefit from more incentives from the Government.
The District Manager also challenged them to ensure that they
fermented their cocoa beans properly to enable the country to maintain
its reputation as the producer of quality cocoa.
Mr Kwame Pius Senyo, Kade District Manager of the COCOBOD, noted
that even though about 65 per cent of the Ghanaian population were
farmers the nation still fell short of food security due to poor
farming practices and advised farmers to avail themselves of modern
agricultural practices.
He cautioned them to guard against the use of child labour on
their farms to spare the country of being black-listed by foreign
buyers of cocoa.
Mr Senyo announced to the farmers amidst applause that government
had decided that insecticides for spraying of cocoa farms would now be
given to them personally.
He said spraying of cocoa farms was free of charge and urged them
to report any spraying gang who may demand monies from them before
offering them their services.
The rest is here:
‘Viral Infections Of Cocoa Trees Not Caused By Witches’