The government is to start the payment of 70 billion cedis as bonus to cocoa farmers next week.

Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, who said this when he briefed journalists on the state of the economy in Accra on Wednesday, said that they would be paid with Akuafo Cheque.

"Even though this will be quite difficult, we will pursue it, because farmers might prefer cash payments by some purchasing companies, instead of cheques."

He said the payment should have been effected earlier but was delayed because of problems of computing the figures as some companies could readily submit data on farmers since they paid cash.

Mr Oasafo-Maafo said the mass spraying of cocoa farms announced by government would begin on August 22 on contingency basis.