Beposo (B/A), June 11, GNA - Nana Kofi Sarfo, a prominent cocoa farmer in the Asunafo district of Brong-Ahafo, has said the annual yield of the crop might decrease due to attack of blackpod disease on cocoa in the area.

Speaking at a farmers' forum at Beposo, Nana Sarfo said the disease resurfaced largely due to the delay in the cocoa spraying exercise in the area.

He expressed regret that the exercise, scheduled to start at the beginning of June was yet to take off and might not make the expected impact in the area.

Nana Sarfo, therefore, appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to ensure that extension officers were deployed to the area to undertake the spraying exercise.

He commended the government's cocoa spraying exercise and the cocoa Hi-Tech programme to ensure increased yield and for regularly increasing the producer price.

Nana Sarfo said: "Reports from cocoa farmers indicate that yields in some areas have increased tremendously" and urged cocoa farmers to work harder to sustain the cocoa industry.