Kumasi, April 07, GNA - Cocoa production in the Ashanti region increased by 44.7 per cent during the 2005/2006 main crop season. The increase was attributed to high patronage of the hi-tech technology and the mass cocoa spraying exercise to revamp the industry. Nana Karikari Addo, Ashanti Regional Deputy Manager of the Quality Control Division (QCD) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) announced this at a meeting with the Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association (GCCSFA) in Kumasi on Thursday. He expressed concern about the procedure in processing and handling of fermented cocoa beans that resulted in the higher percentage of purple beans and urged them to ferment their cocoa beans well to produce best quality beans for export.

The Deputy Regional Manager commended the farmers for their immense contributions in sustaining the economy and asked them to continue to work harder to enable Ghana achieve its past glory as the world's leading producer of cocoa.

He appealed to District Chief Farmers to interact periodically with their colleagues and educate them on government policies and programmes in the industry.

Nana Addo reminded the farmers on the importance of the mass cocoa spraying exercise and advised them to give their maximum support to eradicate swollen shoot disease and capsid.

Nana Amankwatia, Ashanti Regional President of the association; stressed the need for farmers to adhere to advice of Agricultural Extension officers on modern methods of farming to help improve their yield and standard of living.

He said farming was a lucrative venture and appealed to the youth to venture into agriculture for their livelihood. 07 April 06