Amanase Chief Farmer appeals to Cocoa Services for Extension Officers

Amanase (E/R), Aug. 2, GNA – The Chief Cocoa Farmer for Amanase in the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District, Opanin Alexander Asamoah Ampofo, on Monday appealed to the Extension Services unit of the Cocoa Services Division, to extend their services to farmers in the Amanase cocoa growing area.

Opanin Ampofo, 61, who made the appeal through the Ghana News Agency at Amanase, noted that since the new extension system involved that of the Unit (Area), in collaboration with stakeholders, it was better that the extension services were made available to farms in the area.

He pointed out that when the Extension division was placed under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), the area was completely neglected, but expressed the hope that with its current switch over to the Cocoa Services, the appeal of farmers would be considered.

The Amanase Chief Cocoa Farmer said the new extension system involved programmes like snail farming, animal rearing, bee-keeping, gari and palm kennel processing, which were meant to support the farmers during the off-farming season.

Opanin Ampofo has his farms at Amanase Homeso where he has cultivated a nine-acre cocoa farm, two acres palm fruits, and a one acre citrus plantation, in addition to animal husbandry.