– Okatakyei Kwasi Bumankamah tells gov’t
The paramount chief of Sefwi Waiwso Traditional Council in the Western region, Okatakyei Kwasi Bumankamah II, has asked government and Cocobod to make available the ‘free fertilizer’ and other agrochemicals at the right time.
He explained that making these items available on time, especially when cocoa farmers need them, would help farmers to produce more to feed the country given the huge revenue cocoa brings the country.
The traditional ruler made this call in an interaction with the media at his palace. He also reminded the Chief Executive Officer of Cocobod, Dr Stephen Opuni on his promised to establish cocoa training school in the area. He said the people of the area, are counting on him to fulfill that promise this year.
Sefwi, one of the major cocoa producing locations in the country, just like other ‘cocoa-towns’ is faced with the issue of lack access to credit; unequal distribution of agrochemicals; bad roads among others.
Another critical setback to cocoa farming in the community is the threat of illegal mining operations commonly referred to as galamsey which has led to the destruction of a number of farmlands and water bodies.
It is feared that if no immediate measures are taken by local government authorities in the area, the development will threaten to domestic cocoa production.
A cocoa farmer, Nana Kwame Asiedu, also appealed to Cocobod to improve its supervisory role on cocoa purchasing clerks of some of the licensed buying companies who have been adjusting their weighing scales to cheat the farmers.
