Mr Prince Philip Akwensie, Sefwi-Boako District Extension Coordinator of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division of the Ghana Cocoa Board, has expressed satisfaction about the ongoing Cocoa rehabilitation Programme in the Western North Region.
The cocoa rehabilitation programme is to, among others, treat Cocoa swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD), aged Cocoa trees and farms.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Anyinabrim on the success of the Cocoa rehabilitation Programme, Mr Akwensie indicated that the programme has been a success and assured that the programme would help boost Cocoa production in the area.
Mr Akwensie said a total of 391 cocoa farms which cover 334.71 hectares of farm land had been rehabilitated in the District.
He said his outfit has also distributed 406,064 Cocoa seedlings and plantain suckers to beneficiary farmers under the Cocoa Rehabilitation programme.
On compensation, he said a total of 373 farmers had received compensation ranging from GH¢50.00 and GH¢4, 230.00 depending on the size of the farmland.
“The said compensation is being paid to the farmer, land owners and traditional authorities of which each beneficiary is paid an amount of GH¢1,000.00 each per one hectare of Cocoa farm being cut down.”
He explained that under the programme, the government, through Cocobod, had employed weeding gangs with extension officers to help farmers with good farming practices.
He said out that initially, some of the farmers resisted the programme which delayed the process but that many of them have grown to appreciate and accept the programme after seeing some positive results.
Mr Akwensie commended farmers under the Boako District for their cooperation in ensuring the success of the Programme and called on other farmers to embrace it as the only way to boost cocoa production in the area.
Source: GNA
