Assin Foso (C/R), March 31, GNA - The Central Regional Cocoa and Sheanut Farmers Association Chief Farmer, Nana Kwesi Ofori, has appealed to cocoa farmers in the Region to remove rotten beans from their products before selling them to COCOBOD. He said when rotten beans are added to the product, they could result in rejection of the country's cocoa beans on the international market.

Nana Ofori said this at a rally organised by the Quality Control Division Unit of COCOBOD and the Association at Assin Foso on Tuesday. Nana Ofori said the region had recorded high quality premium cocoa beans for the past three years and told the farmers to use only recommended chemicals on their farms.

He said by the end of this year a pension scheme for cocoa farmers would take off.

The Assin North Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Alex Antwi Boasiako, said the government was committed to improving the lot of farmers particularly cocoa farmers following their immense contribution to the socio-economic development of the country. He said more spraying gangs would be formed to cover all cocoa farms in the area before the end of the year and appealed to cocoa farmers to cooperate with the gang members when they visit their farms.

The Central Regional Cocoa Rehabilitation Coordinator, Dr Kyie Mensah, said his out-fit had put in place a programme to bring to cut down all cocoa trees above 30 years and appealed to farmers to allow their aged tree to be destroyed and plant new ones.