Ankaase (Ash), Nov.6, GNA-Two thousand and one hundred hectares of cocoa farms for 710 farmers in Kwabre District have been sprayed against the capsid disease since the inception of the mass spraying of cocoa farms started four years ago.

Alhaji Kwasi Yeboah Kwabre District Chief Executive, who announced this, said 1,187 hectares of cocoa farms were also sprayed against the black pod disease during the period.

He was addressing the Kwabre District celebration of the national farmers' day at Ankaase.

Alhaji Yeboah said under the Hi-Tech programme, 488 cocoa farmers were assisted with fertilisation of their farms at the cost of 732 million cedis.

The DCE pointed out that, only 73 million cedis out of the debt, which was to be paid by the end of September this year had been paid and stressed that the assembly would organise a forum next month for all cocoa farmers to discuss immediate repayment plan.

Alhaji Kwasi Yeboah said in 2004, 9000 bags of fertilisers were allocated to the district for the continuation of the fertilisation programme but only 1,750 have been supplied to the farmers as they have not settled their debts, a situation, which, he said, is not good for the Hi-Tech programme.

Dr Kofi Kwansah Filson Kwabre District Director of Agriculture said his office had carried out a lot of activities, including anti- rabies campaigns and programmes on modern farming methods.

Oheneba Agyeman Kofi, Ankaasehene, and Mr. Kwaku Sika assembly member for Ankaase West called for the rehabilitation of the roads from Ankaase to Dumakyi and Offiano, since a lot of foodstuff and cocoa are produced in those areas.

Mr. Francis Yamoah a 38-year-old farmer at Ankaase was adjudged the overall district best farmer. For his prize, he received a full piece wax print, spraying machine, seven cutlasses, two pairs of Wellington boots, 11 bars of soap and a certificate.

Mr Kofi Adu Twum Mensah, a cocoa farmer at Ankaase who was the runner up took home full piece wax print, a pair of Wellington boots, spraying machine, three litre bottles of carbanult insecticide, three bars of soap and a certificate.

A nutritional centre under the Methodist hospital at Ankaase headed by Madam Lola Buchanan offered special awards to Mr. Sulemana Azampaka and Mr. Kwaku Brenya of Daboya and Ankaase respectively for their contribution towards soyabean production in the area.

Fourteen other farmers and a fire volunteer squad at Ankaase received awards. They had a pair of Wellington boots, three bars of Apino soap, four cutlasses and a certificate each.