The cocoa farmers’ associations in Ahafo Ano
North East, Ahafo and Bono Regions converged at Bechem in the Tano South
Municipality to receive education on the application of fertilizers, methods of
controlling pest and disease and other farming practices.
The programme which
held at Bechem Roman Catholic park saw dignitaries like Hon Benjamin Yeboah
Sekere, the deputy minister for Ahafo Region and Member of Parliament for Tano
south Constituency, Hon Collins Offinam Takyi, the MCE for Tano South, Hon
Ernest Kwarteng, the MCE for Tano North, Hon Bukari Zakari Anaba, the former
district Chief Executive for Tano South, Mr. Amakyi Dede, the Bono Regional
Cocoa Health Extension Officer, Mr Gyamfi Kumaning, the best cocoa farmer for
2018 and Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, the Omanhene of Bechen Traditional
Council.
Some Dignitaries and
participants seated at the function
In a short but
impressive address, Mr Amakyi Dede, the Bono Regional Cocoa Health Extension
Officer thanked all those who came from all walks of life to attend the
programme and hinted that since cocoa farmers play a significant role in the
economy of Ghana, there is the need for them to be educated on good farming
practices to ensure they obtain high yields. He said fertilizer subsidy had
been enjoyed by farmers over the years and stressed that government under the
leadership of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had also subsidized
fertilizers’ price where cocoa farmers are allowed to pay 20% instant price per
a bag of fertilizer and pay the rest of money during the minor and major cocoa
farming seasons.
The Bono Regional Cocoa
Health Extension Officer speaking at the function
Mr Amakyi said
government would find it difficult to identify challenges of individual farmer and
urged them to form cooperative society and submit their grievances holistically
to government and informed them also to
follow all farming practices which would be given to them by the extension
officers.
The MCE for Tano South,
Hon. Collins Offinam Takyi said the Mass Cocoa spraying exercise was introduced
under the leadership of former President John Agyekum Kuffour and hinted that
the programme had been sustained over the years by successive governments. Hon
Takyi said His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President of the
Republic of Ghana had also introduced pollination exercise to augment the
existing programmes to make farmers obtain higher yields during the cocoa
farming seasons. He said Ghana and Cote’ De’vore produce many tons of cocoa and that matter;
His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had planned to collaborate with
Cote’ De’vore President to set cocoa
price to address the current cocoa price
which had recorded significant drop in the world market.
MCE for Tano South, addressing the gathering
Hon Benjamin Yeboah
Sekyer who is the deputy Minister for Ahafo Region and MP for Tano South
Constituency used the occasion to catalogue some of the achievements of
government and reiterated that government under the leadership of Nana Addo
Dankwa Akufo-Addo would continue to distribute national resources equally and
equitably to all MMDA’s to make
authorities execute the needed projects aimed to improve the living
standards of the rural folks and urged farmers also to form association to make
them to be identified and provided with farm inputs by government.
Hon.
Benjamin Yeboah Sekyere addressing the gathering
Nana Fosu Gyeabour
Akoto II, the Omanhene of Bechem Traditional Council who chaired the programme
urged government to support farmers with the necessary farm inputs and stressed
that the availability of farm inputs will help farmers to cultivate their lands
throughout the year to produce more food to feed the country.
Omanhene of Bechem Traditional Council
speaking at the function
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