MVP trains 210 cocoa farmers to improve their yields

Keniago (Ash), May 14, GNA - The Millennium Village Project (MVP) at the weekend organized a day's training workshop for 210 cocoa farmers from Keniago and Watreso in the Amansie West District. It was aimed at equipping them with skills and knowledge in the cocoa industry and management to enable them to conduct downstream training to other farmers in their communities. The workshop was also to help them increase cocoa yield in the area and contribute to the government's goal of attaining one million tones of cocoa per year by 2010.

Some of the topics treated included site selection, land preparation, transplanting, maintenance practices, and weeds control and fertilizer application.

Mr Samuel A. Afram, Cluster Manager of the MVP, said the project being implemented by the government with support from the Earth Institute of Columbia University was aimed at reducing poverty among farmers.

Mr Isaac Kankam-Boadu, Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of the Project, said establishment of cocoa farms was a long-term investment and assured that the staff of the MVP would give the farmers technical advice to enable them raise production.