Avoid the use of chemicals: COCOBOD CEO advises farmers

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Hon Joseph Boahen Aiddo on a day field inspection tour to the Bodi Cocoa District in the Western North Region has familiarized himself with the progress of work at the rehabilitated cocoa farms which were affected by the cocoa swollen shoot viral disease (CSSVD).

Addressing the chief and people of Tawiakrom at a durbar organized in his honor, Hon Joseph Boahen Aiddo advised the farmers to desist from the use of chemicals or weedicides on their cocoa farms because the ''24D'' which is a chemical in the weedicides is dangerous to the soil, and it kills almost all the nutrients in the soil, which sets as food for the soil, and that can affect the smooth growth of the cocoa plants and also affecting the cocoa rehabilitation program by the Government.

Hon. Addo also cautioned the cocoa farmers to do away with burning their cleared lands before planting because that also kills the nutrients in the soil.

The Ghana Cocoa Board CEO, further retreated that, his outfit is ready to provide all the necessary materials and tools needed by farmers who are ready to cut down their cocoa farms affected by the cocoa swollen shoot viral disease, be it labor, tools, plantain seedlings or cocoa seedlings.

He called on the chiefs that, "the government led by Nana Addo Dankwah Akoffo Addo had secured a loan meant for the cocoa rehabilitation program and because of that we are also ready to provide all the necessary cocoa farming materials and inputs to all the farmers who are ready for their cocoa farms affected by the cocoa swollen shoot viral disease to be cut, as we all know we have already put in place the wedding gangs who are working on your farms for two years. before handing over your farm to you,''.

The chief of Tawiakrom Nana Kojo Adjei also thanked the Chief Executive Officer for his visit and promised his readiness to also be involved in the campaign and education of the cocoa rehabilitation program, especially for those in his area.

'We the chiefs and elders of Tawiakrom will from today join the campaign and education for the cocoa rehabilitation program because we all know cocoa is Ghana and Ghana is cocoa and we need to revive the dying cocoa farms, especially in this area known as the area of cocoa some years ago."