Akim Swedru (E/R), Oct. 22, GNA - Birim Central Municipal Best Farmer, Mr Emmanuel Duah, has urged the Committee entrusted with kilo deductions on cocoa in the Municipality to keep proper accounts of such funds. He said due to improper records on the kilo deductions many societies of the Licensed Buying Companies had stopped such a useful practice to farmers. Mr Duah was reacting to claims at Akim Swedru near Oda on Wednesday, that the deduction was an attempt to extort monies from the cocoa farmers. He, however, explained that such monies were used to purchase farming inputs to be sold to farmers on credit basis. The Best Farmer alleged that both Committee's members and some cocoa Purchasing Clerks (P/Cs) misappropriate the funds. "This is no secret, there had been several occasions that similar situations had degenerated into scuffles between P/Cs and committee members," he added. Mr Duah was emphatic that while the clerks kept the funds, they tried to frustrate farmers through unnecessary deductions like 'short weight' during balking.

He appealed to farmers that practice the kilo deductions, especially those, who had defaulted in paying for insecticides supplied to them last years to pay up immediately. Mr Duah also urged committee members not to hesitate to prosecute anyone found to have embezzled such funds and called on the farmers to maintain their cocoa farms regularly to maximise output.