Vegetable farmers have been advised to form groups in their communities, to help address specific challenges confronting them.

Formation of groups will go a long way towards enhancing productivity, Mr Freeman Madji, Executive Director of Abibiman Sankofa Cultural Movement (ASCUM) said.

Mr Freeman also the Founder of ASCUM was addressing about 350 members of the Movement drawn from the Birim Central Municipality and the Birim South District, to discuss among other issues on how to get market for the produce of member-farmers, at Akim Oda.

ASCUM has more than 2,500 members operating from six districts in the Eastern Region. It uses traditional music to promote agriculture. Its members have formed groups undertaking various vegetable farming.

Mr Freeman said farmers have now seen the advantage and potential of their groupings to help market their produce and thus gain more control over market prices.

The Executive Director, whose Movement has more than 70 per cent women, said plans are far advanced to establish a training centre for those who wish to get into vegetable growing.

He said strengthening farmers groupings in urban vegetable production systems, is a way of solving the Movements marketing problems. Speaking to the male counterparts of the Movement who have cocoa farms, Mr Freeman explained that proper fermentation of the crop is paramount, to avert cheating by cocoa purchasing clerks.

He said government is offering a bag of fertilizer at a reduced price, aimed at improving the yield of cocoa farmers to enhance their income. The Executive Director advised them to prone their cocoa trees and co-operate with spraying gangs to ensure proper application of insecticides.