Distribution of free cocoa fertilizer starts

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has commenced the distribution of free fertilizers for cocoa farmers throughout the country.

The movement of fertilizers started on April 4, 2016 from warehouses in Tema, to all the various cocoa growing areas.

In all some 2.5 million bags of granular fertilizer earmarked to cover some 333,333 hectares of cocoa farms would be distributed to the country’s cocoa farmers.

Also, another batch of 1.4 million litres of liquid or foliar fertilizer – will go to some 700,000 hectares of cocoa farms. Both the granular and foliar fertilizers are meant for fruit bearing cocoa trees only.

The granular and the foliar fertilizers would take care of over one million hectares of cocoa farms nationwide.

To boost rapid vegetative growth and development of nurseries and young cocoa planted last year and this year, some 200, 000 bags of Ammonium Sulphate fertilizers is also planned to cover some 80,000 hectares of such cocoa farms.

Distribution of the fertilizers would be done by only certified agencies, by the COCOBOD, at no costs.

Western Region where distribution started last week is to receive some 1.16 million bags of granular fertilizer and 34,000 cartons or 532 metric tons of the liquid fertilizer.

Cocoa farmers in the Ashanti Region will receive 455,000 bags of granular fertilizer and 35, 000 cartons or 560 metric tons of foliar fertilizer.

Some 395,000 bags of granular fertilizer and 18,200 or 291 metric tons of foliar fertilizer would also be given out free to farmers in the Brong Ahafo region. The Central Region cocoa farmers would receive 250,000 bags of fertilizer and 13,733 cartons or 220 metric tons of foliar fertilizer.

Farmers in the Eastern Region would receive, freely, 173,000 bags of granular fertilizer and 15, 200 cartons or 243 metric tons of foliar fertilizer.

Volta Region farmers are also to receive 35,000 bags of granular fertilizer and 1,200 cartons or 19 metric tons to take care of their farms.

To enhance transparency, effectiveness and equity in the free supply of fertilizer to Ghana’s hardworking cocoa farmers, CODAPEC/HITEC taskforces have been established and inaugurated in all the 60 Cocoa Health and Extension Division of the COCOBOD operational districts.

The taskforce in every district is made-up of three COCOBOD Staff, District Police Commander, Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) officer, NADMO officer, District Chief Cocoa Farmer and two representatives from the District Assembly.

With the wide range of measures put in place, this year’s distribution of fertilizers would not only be fair, but is expected to be peaceful, and faithfully get the fertilizers and other inputs to the farmers.