Wassa Esikuma (W/R), Sept 12, GNA- The government has voted 242 billion cedis for the mass cocoa spraying exercise this year and the exercise will cover 1.6 million hectares of cocoa farms throughout the country. The government also has voted 57.3 billion cedis for the application of hi-tech fertilizer to 500,000 cocoa farms across the country.

Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Western Regional Minister, said this at separate durbars in four communities at the start of a four-day visit to the Wassa West District.

The communities are Wassa Esikuma, Wassa Nkran, Koduakrom and Pieso. He said the mass spraying exercise and increases in the producer price of cocoa have led to an increase in national cocoa production.

Mr Aidoo said Ghana, ranked the world's third largest cocoa producer, has now occupied the second position and that it is the government's intension to make Ghana the leading cocoa producing country in the world.

Mr Aidoo said the government is determined to tar feeder roads in the country to link rural and urban areas as a way of boasting agriculture and improve the lives of rural dwellers.

''There were 500 kilometres of un-tarred feeder roads in the region when NPP government came to power. Now, the feeder roads are being tarred in phases and eventually all communities would benefit from the programme'', the Regional Minister said.

He said the Agona Nkwanta-Tarkwa road has been awarded on contract and work would begin soon.

Mr Albert Obbin, Member of Parliament for Prestea/Huni-Valley, said the NPP government stands for rural development and will do everything possible to improve the lives of the people. The people in the area said they are opposed to surface mining in forest areas because it can pollute sources of drinking water.