Some 1,000 farmers to benefit from new technology

Some 1,000 cocoa farmers in the Wassa West District have been selected for a pilot project aimed at introducing farmers to a new technology in farming.

The farmers would be supplied with fertilizer, insecticides and other chemicals through the Ministry of Agriculture (MOFA) for four years.

Addressing farmers at Bogoso at the weekend Mr John Koufi, the District Development Officer of MOFA, said agricultural extension officers would introduce the farmers to the proper application of chemicals, fertilizer and maintenance of their farms.

He said the ministry would soon distribute the items to farmers in 32 cocoa societies in the district.

''More farmers will be considered for assistance under the project next year. Cocoa farms aged more than 10 years and with very poor yield would be selected for rehabilitation", Mr Koufi said.

He said a new parasite found on farms had been referred to the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) at New Tafo in the Eastern Region.

Mr Samuel Adjetey, the District Chief Farmer, commended the government for the efforts to revamp the cocoa industry through mass spraying of cocoa farms, regular review of the producer price of the commodity and the introduction of the high-tech pilot project.

He appealed for the rehabilitation of roads in the area for easy evacuation of cocoa and foodstuffs.