Kumasi, Nov 5, GNA- A cocoa farmer has appealed to his colleagues to expose Licensed Cocoa Buying Companies (LBCs) that pay cash to farmers to gain advantage over their competitors and by this undermine the Akuafo Cheque System.

Nana Kwame Amankwatia, Ashanti Regional Chief Farmer said the successful operation of the cheque system would depend on the level of support and co-operation of farmers.

He was addressing a meeting of District Chief Farmers in the Ashanti to discuss ways of moving the cocoa industry forward. Nana Amankwatia said the benefits to farmers from the Akuafo Cheque were enormous and for that matter they should ensure that the implementation is successful.

He expressed appreciation of the farmers to the government for the recent increase in the producer price of the crop.

He said the increase "shows that the government indeed cares for the Ghanaian cocoa farmer and has his welfare at heart."

Nana Amankwatia appealed to farmers to reciprocate this by working hard to expand their farms and raise output to bring in more returns to the country.

"Thanks to the government's prudent interventions, farming has now become lucrative and this fact must be drummed home to the young able-bodied men", he said.