Jamasi (Ash), March 27, GNA - The Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) Control Unit of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has embarked on massive cocoa rehabilitation and extension services programme to help farmers to increase production and boost their returns. This involves aggressive control of mistletoes infestation and the cutting down of old cocoa trees and replanting of high-yielding and early maturing ones.

Mr Akwasi Amanfo Bio-Frimpong, Asante-Mampong Municipal Officer of the CSSVD, said this when he addressed separate farmers' fora at Jamasi and Morso in the Sekyere South District on Saturday.

He said it was part of the effort by government to meet the target of one million tonnes of cocoa production by 2012. He said already five cocoa districts in Ashanti; Obuasi, Offinso, Asante-Mampong, Ahafo-Ano North and Atwima-Nwabiagya had benefited from the programme.

This was to help educate them and win their support for the programme. Mr Bio-Frimpong said under it, farmers were also being assisted to intercrop their cocoa farms with maize, yams and cassava to boost national food security.

This would provide them with additional income to raise their living standards. He, therefore, urged them to embrace the programme to ensure its success and help the nation to once again become the world's leading producer of cocoa. 27 March 10