Cocoa Farmers in Assin Kushea area have appealed to Cocoa Board to organize regular training and workshops for them on agronomic best practices alongside the Cocoa Disease and Pests Control (CODAPEC) programme.

The farmers’ appeal was contained in a 24-page participatory action research document read at a day’s sensitization seminar at Assin Kushea.

The seminar under the theme “Problems militating against Cocoa production and Cocoa farm productivity in Ghana: The case of Assin Kushea and Assin Foso”, was organized by Assin Kushea Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Union in collaboration with ASKY Service Limited, a human resource and development training organization.

It was funded by BUSAC Fund, DIANDA and USAID. The seminar formed part of on-going advocacy action by the farmers to address challenges facing them.

According to the farmers, because of the isolated nature of the area, no assistance in the areas of supply of inputs, chemicals and extension officers are received, resulting in low cocoa production.

They said some of the farmers had lost their farms due to lack of support from the public sector and agencies set up to assist them.

The farmers suggested that the CODAPEC spraying exercise should be incorporated in Non-formal Education programme designed for them.

They expressed the hope that if the recommendations and suggestions are implemented, they would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the CODAPEC programme, to better their lot and to sustain the cocoa industry.

Nana Ansu Adane Kofrobur II, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Consultant of ASKY Service Ltd, said most cocoa farms are sprayed by the mass spraying gangs once in 3 to 5 years.

According to him, fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides sometime supplied to farmers are woefully inadequate and erratically done.

Nana Korankye, Assin Beraku District Cocoa Chief Farmer, advised the farmers to stop the practice of smuggling cocoa beans to other nearby regions, adding the practice is against the cocoa industry rules and regulations.**