Joseph Boahene Aidoo
CHIEF EXECUTIVE Officer (CEO) of Ghana COCOBOD, Joseph Boahene Aidoo, has said chemicals meant for distribution to cocoa farmers in the country are not for sale.
Mr. Boahene gave the warning in the Ahafo Region when he interacted with cocoa farmers from Bechem Cocoa District at Duayaw Nkwanta in Tano North District as part of a three-day tour of the Ahafo, Bono and Bono East regions.
The tour was to engage farmers on the government’s interventions in the cocoa sector.
“COCOBOD is not selling the chemicals; the government wants every farm to be sprayed so they are not for sale. You need not pay for it, it is free,” he said.
He, therefore, tasked the farmers immediately to report any shop attendant who attempts to sell the chemicals to his outfit or to the nearest police station for arrest and prosecution.
“Any shop that sells chemicals is going against the law. All chief farmers must monitor these designated stores/shops for distribution and ensure the rules are upheld,” he said.
“This year we have distributed Trivor, an insecticide under CODAPEC 2023, Royal Cop, Cocoa Shield and Sidalco Defender; all under fungicide and D. I. Grow -Folia and Asaasewura which are also fertilizers. Farners have also received Tecamin also flower inducer all in an effort to boost production. At least you should be able to harvest 20- 35 bags of cocoa on an acre of land if you apply all the standards,” he said.
Addressing the farmers drawn from Bomaa, Asukese, Tanokrom, Bompae among other cocoa growing communities, Mr. Aidoo maintained his interaction with them is to enable him and his lieutenants explain and ensure they observe best agronomy practices under the cocoa management system to ensure maxim yield per acre.
“Every cocoa farmer should take advantage of the new producer price and make money. All of you appreciate the new price and hail government for it but if you are unable to increase your yield on an acre of land by adopting mass spraying, hand pollination, cutting down trees for new ones, pruning among others you cannot make more money,” he pointed out.
FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Duayaw Nkwanta