Adiembra (Ash), Dec 8, GNA - Mr Wilson Yeboah, the Nkawie District Quality Control Officer, has debunked claims by some farmers that the mass cocoa spraying exercise had contributed to the high incidence of the purple colour before drying.

He attributed the purple cocoa to the improper fermentation of cocoa before drying and therefore, encouraged farmers to ensure the proper fermentation of cocoa beans before drying.

Mr Yeboah was addressing an educational rally for about 300 farmers at Adiembra in the Atwima district of Ashanti. The farmers were drawn from Pakyi, Achiase, Adiembra and Atuntuna.

Besides ensuring the proper fermenting of cocoa before drying as a means of producing quality cocoa, he said the purple beans found in some cocoa in the country could be avoided if licensed buying companies insisted upon buying only quality cocoa.

He said the proper fermentation of the cocoa before drying will enable Ghana to maintain its prestige as one of the leading quality cocoa producing countries.