Kufuor Calls for Reduction In Price Of Insecticides

Fiapre (B/A), Sept. 1, - Mr J. A. Kufuor, 1996 presidential candidate of the Great Alliance, has called on the government to reduce the price of insecticides to save the cocoa industry from collapse. The recent increase in price of Unden-20 from 3,000 cedis to 20,000 cedis has made it impossible for most farmers to buy enough of the pesticides to spray their farms. Mr Kufuor was addressing a political rally at Fiapre, near Sunyani, at the weekend. He said due to incentives given to farmers in neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire, its cocoa production has significantly increased whereas cocoa, the mainstay of Ghana's economy, has witnessed drastic decline due to neglect. He said the country's deplorable economic situation has forced many Ghanaians to migrate to neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire to seek greener pastures. Mr Kwadwo Agyei-Darko, Member of Parliament for Sunyani West, urged assemblymen to refrain from partisan politics and ensure that the common fund was judiciously utilised for the benefit of the communities. He said 20 people would be selected from the constituency to attend a training course in snail and mushroom farming and the production of cosmetics. He expressed the hope that those who would benefit from the package would train others to acquire employable skills.

Fiapre (B/A), Sept. 1, - Mr J. A. Kufuor, 1996 presidential candidate of the Great Alliance, has called on the government to reduce the price of insecticides to save the cocoa industry from collapse. The recent increase in price of Unden-20 from 3,000 cedis to 20,000 cedis has made it impossible for most farmers to buy enough of the pesticides to spray their farms. Mr Kufuor was addressing a political rally at Fiapre, near Sunyani, at the weekend. He said due to incentives given to farmers in neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire, its cocoa production has significantly increased whereas cocoa, the mainstay of Ghana's economy, has witnessed drastic decline due to neglect. He said the country's deplorable economic situation has forced many Ghanaians to migrate to neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire to seek greener pastures. Mr Kwadwo Agyei-Darko, Member of Parliament for Sunyani West, urged assemblymen to refrain from partisan politics and ensure that the common fund was judiciously utilised for the benefit of the communities. He said 20 people would be selected from the constituency to attend a training course in snail and mushroom farming and the production of cosmetics. He expressed the hope that those who would benefit from the package would train others to acquire employable skills.