Akyem Boso (E/R), Sept. 24, GNA - The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) with the active support of the government is determined to increase the country's cocoa production to over one million tones within the shortest possible time, up from the present production of about 740,000 tones. The Deputy Eastern Regional Manager of the COCOBOD, Mr Francis Antwi Agyei, said government was therefore giving every encouragement and assistance, including higher producer prices and bonuses, free spraying of cocoa farms and other incentives to cocoa farmers for increased production.

Speaking at a cocoa farmers education rally at Akyem Boso, Mr Agyei said it was necessary that the battle against swollen shoot disease was won through the active work of the Swollen Shoot Virus Control Unit (SSVCU) of the COCOBOD. He described the swollen shoot as a "major enemy of the cocoa industry", which could, however, be eradicated by cutting and uprooting all affected trees.

He explained that the scientific community had since the discovery of the disease in 1930 been engaged in finding a cure for it and since none had been found to date, the only answer is the destruction of trees affected by the disease.

Mr Agyei advised farmers who discover diseased trees on their farms to inform officials of the SSVCU to help remove the trees before they spread to other farms.

He said farmers who allowed their trees to be cut and uprooted would be given cash compensation and assisted to replant with hybrid cocoa seedlings that would produce after only two years, with additional financial incentives.

Mr Akwasi Bio-Frimpong, Asamankese District Cocoa officer, urged cocoa farmers to properly maintain their farms to avoid being attacked by pests and diseases such as the black pod and "akate". He stressed the need for farmers to clear their farms of weeds as well as spray it twice, to supplement government's spraying exercise. Mr Bio-Frimpong said the new producer price of cocoa should encourage farmers to give special attention to their farms. Mr Atta Asiedu, Chief Technical Assistant, appealed to cocoa farmers to give their children the best education and refrain from using them as labourers.