Akyem – Asuom: Cocoa farmers sensitized at a rally

The Cocoa Health and Extension Division of the Ghana Cocoa Board on Friday held a mini cocoa rally at Akyem – Asuom in the Kwaebibirem municipality of the Eastern region.

The occasion which brought together over 1,000 farmers was to sensitize cocoa farmers within the Asuom cocoa production area of the activities of the district division of CHED and the current interventions by the government of Ghana through the Cocoa Board for the farmers and their communities.

Cocoa Farm Management.

Speaking at the rally, Mr. Solomon Koomson, the District Cocoa Officer of the Kade Cocoa District said the CHED core duty is to ensure that cocoa farmers are provided with the requisite information on the production of cocoa through extension support and he admonished cocoa farmers to count on the community extension agent with all issues on their production to produce quality cocoa beans for the market.

“I congratulate all cocoa farmers present for your efforts so far and I will use this opportunity to sensitize you to count on CHED for extension support always” – said Mr. Solomon Koomson.

Cocoa Quality Control

In enhancing the production of quality cocoa beans, the District Quality Control Manager, Mr. Ofori Mensah educated farmers on the proper handling and use of agro-inputs, the harvesting and fermentation process to ensure that the best quality cocoa beans are produced for the market.

“Ghana’s cocoa is noted for all for quality standards required, so I will today advice cocoa farmers present to adhere to the cocoa agronomic practices approved by CRIG and teaching of the community extension agents to ensure that the best cocoa beans are produced and source from Ghanaian farmers”.

He also cautions cocoa farmers against the use of fertilizer sacks and mosquito nets for cocoa beans fermentation as these practices to affect the production of quality cocoa beans and cause contaminations.

He added that cocoa farmers within the Kade Cocoa District must avoid selling their cocoa beans to purchasing clerks outside the district to help the district keep its stand as the best cocoa producer in the Eastern region.

COCOBOD interventions

Mr. Kingsford Kakutey, the Deputy Regional Manager of COCOBOD acknowledged cocoa farmers in the district for producing cocoa beans of high quality and adhering to the extension education of CHED.

He reiterated the various cocoa interventions outlined by COCOBOD and the Government of Ghana for cocoa farmers such as the cocoa rehabilitation programme which has commenced in most regions of Ghana that seek to re-established all diseased and old cocoa farms for the farmers, the introduction of best pruning tools, brush cutters for weeding in cocoa farms to avoid the use of harmful herbicides in the control of weeds, artificial pollination to improve and increase yield and the pilot cocoa farm irrigation to be commenced soon.

These are some of the interventions for the betterment of cocoa farmers in the district and we must all welcome it with good heart.

He calls on the farmers to be part of the Cocoa farmer co-operative that has been initiated by COCOBOD. “The various co-operative societies are going to be the mouthpiece and service source center for all cocoa farmers, so we entreat you all to register and be part of” – he said.

Mr. Kingsford Kakutey, also asked the youth in the district to leverage on the Youth in Cocoa initiative of COCOBOD to become cocoa farmers to care for the ageing cocoa farmers.

Nana Asuom Hene and Farmers Remark

On his part, the Chief of Akyem – Asuom, Osabarima Ofosuhene Appenteng II appreciate COCOBOD for always creating an enabling environment for rural cocoa farmers to strive.

He entreated all cocoa farmers within the Akyem – Asuom catchment to adhere to the production principles of CHED to keep the good name of the area in cocoa production.

He appealed to COCOBOD to help develop the cocoa-producing communities to make farming life better for them. He also asked the management of COCOBOD to decentralize their service centre to ease farmers from traveling a long distance to access farm service and called for a cocoa office in Asuom for that purpose.

He advised and caution the co-operative leadership to be of high integrity and accountable to the farmers to ensure the smooth running of the co-operatives to achieving the core goals. “I caution and entreat all to be of good conduct in these co-operatives to help achieve its goals” – He bemoan.

Farmers at the rally commended COCOBOD for the various production interventions that are changing their farming practices and making their life better.