Boost for cocoa farmers

A new campaign geared towards increasing cocoa production in the country was on Tuesday launched at Dunkwa-On-Offin in the Upper Denkyira East District of the Central Region with a call on cocoa farmers to comply strictly with the necessary directives.

The campaign would be undertaken in 16 districts across the country by YARA Ghana in collaboration with the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG).

As part of the campaign, the farmers would be taken through the correct application of fertilizer, sowing of cocoa seedlings and application of chemicals to check the growth of weeds on farms.

The launch also saw the introduction of a new type of fertilizer, Nitrabor by YARA Ghana Limited to support cocoa farmers across the country to improve yield and quality of cocoa in the country.

A Research Scientist at CRIG, Dr. Alfred Arthur appealed to cocoa farmers to use the required chemicals in their farming activities.

He appealed to farmers to contact the institute for a test to be carried out to ascertain soil fertility.

He bemoaned the situation whereby some cocoa farmers plant cocoa seedlings without knowledge about the fertility of the soil.

The Sales and Retail Manager of YARA Ghana, Henry Otoo-Mensah, in an address, stated that the new fertilizer was designed to boost cocoa production in a very scientific and unique way.

Mr Otoo-Mensah hinted that ‘Nitrabor’ was purposely designed to help replenish certain nutrients in the soil to enhance production.

He reiterated the organization’s commitment in intensifying the campaign to enable the country increase its cocoa production which recorded significant drop.

He emphasized the need for cocoa farmers to cooperate with the company to obtain the necessary result.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly, Peter Owusu-Ashia charged cocoa farmers to heed the advice of extension officers in their localities on the proper way of farming.

He commended YARA Ghana and CRIG for their contributions toward improving cocoa production in the country.