Boamadumase (Ash), Nov.8, GNA- Cocoa farmers in the Ejisu-Juaben District, have not been able to utilize all the 12,000 bags of fertilizer allocated to them to promote the Cocoa Hi-tech project. Mr Yaw Ahenkora Afrifa the District Chief Executive who disclosed this, said so far only 8,000 bags of the fertiliser have been used for production.

He was addressing a farmers' durbar to mark the District's celebration of the 20th National Farmers' Day at Boamadumase, which was on the theme: "Food Safety and Improved Nutrition for a Healthy and Active Nation".

Mr Afrifa expressed disappointment that some farmers were refusing to pay back the cost of the fertilizers and explained that such an attitude would not help to sustain the project.

Mr Afrifa said the District Assembly had for the past three years provided a loan facility of over 700 million cedis to support farmers. Mr Akwasi Osei Adjei, the Member of Parliament for Ejisu-Juaben and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, advised supporters of the political parties to forge unity to fight poverty and maintain peace and stability.

Mrs Beatrice Aboagye, the District Director of Food and Agriculture said the quality of food was determined by the methods of production, harvesting, procession, storage, packaging and marketing. Thirteen (13) farmers were honoured at the ceremony, with Mr Samuel Obeng Dapaah of Essienimpong emerging as the District Best Farmer. He received a bicycle, a radio cassette player, a wall clock, half piece of cloth, eight cutlasses, a pair of Wellington boots and a bar of soap.

The remaining 12 farmers were given five cutlasses, Wellington boots, wall clocks and bar of soap each.