Control swollen shoot - COCOBOD urged

Brakwa (C/R), June 22, GNA - The COCOBOD has been urged to control the swollen shoot disease in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District to increase cocoa production.

Farmers in the area who spoke to the GNA noted that the Breman-Asikuma, Akroso and Agona Nyakrom cocoa zones, which shared boundaries with the District, had started reaping the benefits of the exercise after diseased trees had been cut and replanted.

They said several attempts to get in touch with the disease control officers to start the exercise in the area had failed.

In an interview with the GNA, Mr Kwame Akowuah, Extension Officer of the Cocoa Services Division, said he had communicated the farmers' request to the officers at the Boaduaa and Bieni Units Disease Control office in the Eastern Region and wondered why action had delayed. Mr Daniel K. Asirifi, Extension Officer for Agona Nyakrom, pointed out that part of the area is in the Eastern Region, which had not been covered adding that, the area in the Central Region had been covered.