Cocobod has announced plans to provide technical and financial assistance towards rehabilitation of large swathe of cocoa farms in the Atwima-Mponua District ravaged by bush fires and pests.
Mrs Fautina Asamany, Ashanti Regional Manager of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division, said the move was to help the victim farmers to get their lives back and assure them of sustainable income.
She was speaking at forum held at Gyereso to introduce farmers in the area to new farming methods and the correct application of fertilizers and chemicals for optimal crop yield.
She hinted that 10.2 million early-maturing, high-yielding and disease-resistant cocoa seedlings would be supplied to cocoa growers across the region free of charge during this year’s planting season.
The Division has targeted to distribute a total of 60 million hybrid seedlings nationwide.
Mrs. Asamany encouraged the farmers to register with the agricultural extension agents to enable them to benefit from the free fertilizer supply.
She underlined their determination to make sure that there was fairness and transparency in the fertilizer distribution in order to achieve the intended goal of raising the country’s cocoa production.
She urged the farmers to continue to adopt best practices to maintain the quality of cocoa beans.
