Alhajikrom (Western Region) 18 Jan. '99

Members of the Alhajikrom Cocoa Society of the Produce Buying Company (PBC) have met at Alhajikrom, near Sefwi-Kazoo in the Juabeso-Bia District to review their performance for the past year and formulate programmes to enhance cocoa production. They also reviewed the society's accounts in respect of the "kilo-kilo" cocoa" deductions towards some development projects in the area. Addressing the meeting, the society's chief farmer, Nana Alhaji Musah, advised the members to adhere strictly to bye-laws guiding bush-burning, especially at this time of the year, to protect their farms and the environment from destruction. He cautioned palm wine tappers, hunters and charcoal burners to halt their activities until the dry season is over and warned that the recalcitrant ones among them would be dealt with if caught. A prominent farmer, Nana Akua Effah, on behalf of the farmers, commended a special committee charged to manage contributions through the "kilo-kilo" cocoa deductions for mobilising six million cedis towards members welfare and development projects in the area. The committee has donated 700,000 cedis to clad the Nyamebekyere District Council Primary School pavilion. She advised farmers to refrain from selling cocoa in small quantities to unlicensed buyers because the practice encourages stealing of cocoa beans by farm hands.