Kumasi, May 26, GNA - OLAM Ghana Limited, a licensed cocoa buying company (LBC), as part of its contribution towards the strengthening of cocoa extension services to farmers, has presented nine motorbikes valued at GH¢35,000.00 to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

This comes under the public, private partnership programme, introduced two years ago by the Board.

At a handing over ceremony in Kumasi, on Thursday, Mr John Andre, Business Head of OLAM, said they believe the bikes would go a long way to help achieve the 1,000,000 tons cocoa production target the Board had set for the year.

He said he has every reason to believe that those who would be officially entrusted with the motor bikes would make sure that they were used for the intended purpose.

Deputy Chief Executive, Agronomy and Quality Control, COCOBOD, Dr Yaw Adu-Ampomah, thanked the company for its support and said this could not have come at a better time.

He said the achievements of the Board, by way of increase production levels within the last decade had come through interventions, like mass cocoa spraying, supply of fertilizers to farmers and the establishment of an extension agents unit.

The bikes would assist the extension agents in their rounds to educate farmers on how to improve production methods and maintain the quality of the country's cocoa.

Reverend Kweku Abaka-Ewusi, Executive Director, Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease Control Unit (CSSVDCU) of the Board, said reaching farmers in rural areas had been their major challenge and it was on account of this that the bikes should be appreciated as a step in the right direction.