Ensure right application of agro-chemicals – Manager

Farmers have been urged to ensure the right application of fertilizers and insecticides on their farms for best results.

Mr Vincent Frimpong-Manu, Country Manager of Solidaridad; a Dutch International Development Organization involved in the promotion of sustainable agriculture, raised concerns over the misuse of agro-chemicals, which could only give counter-productive effect.

Mr Frimpong-Manu made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at New Edubiase in the Adansi South District.

He said “It was only by applying the right agro-chemical and in the right quantities that increases crop production and quality would be assured.”

He further spoke of the need to do more, to support farmers with appropriate farming technologies to boost crop yield and returns and transform their livelihoods.

“It was to help achieve this that Solidaridad organization was assisting smallholder producers, both organized and cooperatives, through training to enable them to market certified agricultural products such as cocoa, coffee, fruits and palm oil”

Mr Vincent said Solidaridad, in partnership with Independent Certification and Traceable Organization (UTZ), was training over 50,000 cocoa farmers across the country; this is to build their capacity in the cocoa value chain to promote efficient and good agricultural practices which would lead to international certification standards. He said.