Breman Asikuma C/R, Oct 13, GNA - The Central Regional Branch of the Produce Buying Company (PBC) has honoured 42 cocoa farmers, including seven cocoa marketing clerks for their hard work and meritorious services to the company at a ceremony at Breman Asikuma. The over all best cocoa farmer award went Nana Toku, from Assin Bereku. He took home a 20 inches colour television, spraying machine, insecticides, half piece of wax print and a certificate. Mr Noah Brobbey, also from Assin Fosu was adjudged the best Cocoa Marketing Clerk in the Central Region. He received a gas cylinder, insecticides and a certificate.

Addressing the farmers, Mr Sampson Kwame Anfako, District Chief Executive for Asikuma Odoben Brakwa, said the government would leave no stone unturned to resuscitate the cocoa industry. He said large quantities of chemicals, Wellington boots and spraying machines were supplied to spraying gangs to be effective in the mass spraying exercise.

Mr Anfako stressed that since the year 2000, cocoa purchases in the district had gone up by 33 percent and expressed the hope that the figure would rise steadily.

He noted that the cocoa High-Tech programme of fertilizing cocoa farms would increase the production of cocoa to appreciable levels. He commended the PBC for recognising the hard work of cocoa farmers in the Central Region and awarded them.

Nana Tutu, Central Regional Chief Farmer said the re-introduction of the Akuafo Cheques system would eliminate such vices as armed robbery attack on buyers and farmers as well as stem the incidence of fake currency notes.