The Executive Director of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), Mr Gilbert Anim Oppong has urged cocoa farmers to adopt good farming practices to increase their yields.

He made the call when the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Antwi-Bosiako Sekyere visited the institute as part of his tour of Fanteakwa District and the East Akim Municipality.

Mr Oppong explained that, capsid (Akate) and black pod diseases are the major challenges facing cocoa farmers.

He said to prevent akate from destroying the cocoa, farmers must build an overhead shades on the farms.

Mr Oppong suggested that, apart from the use of fungicides as a preventive method, good agronomic practices is the sure way to boost cocoa production and maintain the farm for a long period.

He expressed regret that most farmers do not follow the instructions given to them during workshops and thus record low produce and high pest infestation.

The Eastern Regional Minister encouraged the staff of CRIG to work hard to keep the standards of Ghana’s cocoa on the world ranking and to shoot back Ghana as the best producer of cocoa as it was before.

Mr Antwi-Bosiako expressed his satisfaction with the centre for initiating efforts to boost coffee production in the country.