Enchi (W/R), Oct. 2, GNA - The Cocoa Producer Review Committee (CPPRC) would soon meet to deliberate on a new producer price that would be beneficial to the country's hard working cocoa farmers. The new producer price would also help to attain the target of 69 percent of the projected Free On Board (FOB) price for the 2003-04 season, Mr Kwame Sarpong, Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has said.

He was addressing a rally at Enchi, during which the Produce Buying Company (PBC) honoured 95 cocoa farmers for their outstanding performance in the last season. Mr Sarpong said government's commitment to pay cocoa farmers 70 percent of the projected FOB price by the 2004-05 season, was on course. COCOBOD currently pays 8.5 million cedis per tonne of cocoa to farmers, representing 68 percent FOB, up from 6.2 million cedis in the 2001-02 crop year.

Mr Sarpong said COCOBOD had initiated measures that would save farmers from queuing for long hours and days to cash their Akuafo cheques at the designated banks and implored them to receive only cheques in payment for their produce. The use of the Akuafo cheque has numerous advantages, including the elimination of fraud and cheating, he said, adding that, it would also inculcate the practice of saving and record keeping for the payment of bonuses to the farmers. Mr Sarpong warned that COCOBOD would sanction buyers who would pay cash for their purchases or found to have abused the cheque system.

Mr E. Owusu Boakye, Managing Director of PBC, said the board of directors and management of PBC were working collectively to tighten "loose ends" in its operations to make the partnership between the company and the farmers sustainable. He said PBC was working to secure ready market for the produce of farmers produce to enhance prompt payment and records on farmers' sales to ensure access to facilities such as bonuses, scholarship awards, as well as benefiting from the hi-tech farming methods.

Mr Boakye urged the farmers to protect the premium quality of the produce and to ensure regular maintenance of their farms. "You must expose market clerks and other field staff who misconduct themselves when they come to buy your produce," he said.

Nana Paul Osei, Opanin Egya Okra, Mr Nelson Avogah and Mr A. K. Dapaah, who were adjudged outstanding farmers in the Western Region, were presented with items ranging from Television sets, Gas cookers, Spraying machines, Pesticides, Wellington boots and machetes. Ninety-one other farmers also received prizes.