Agona Swedru, Aug. 3, GNA - Cocoa farmers in the Agona District of the Central Region owe the Government a total of 3.0 billion cedis for inputs supplied under the First Phase of the Hi-Tech Fertilizers Programme in 2003 and 2004.

Mr Samuel Ankomah, District Agricultural Extension Officer, said this when Mr Obeng Adjinah, National Coordinator of Cocoa Mass Spraying Exercise, interacted with spraying gangs at Agona Swedru.

He said the Agona District Assembly has set up a taskforce to collect the amount and that due to the indebtedness, 4,060 bags of Hi-Tech fertilizer supplied to the Agona District in March were re-allocated to Sefwi Wiaso in the Western Region.

Mr Ankomah said preparations were in progress to start the mass spraying exercise this month with the creation of additional gangs to the existing 40 gangs in the district.

He said a new chemical, called Confidor, would be used and that fuel, machines and chemicals had been supplied for the smooth take off of the exercise.