New technology for cocoa production found

A research into the suitability of soil at Mampong in Ashanti for the cultivation of cocoa on large scale has proved positive.

Farmers in the area are to be introduced to the new technology as from next year.

Professor Ambrose Kwame Tuah, the Principal of the Asante Mampong Campus of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), at the research site at Mampong at the weekend.

He said he was optimistic that cocoa will soon become the major source of income to the people in the Sekyere West District of Ashanti.

Explaining how the technology was acquired, Professor Tuah said the University obtained the seeds of hybrid cocoa from Bunso in the Eastern Region, nursed it and transplanted it together with glyciridia trees, which would provide shade on an experimental cocoa farm.

He noted that due to proper planting methods adopted, the cocoa farm which was started last year had shown possible signs of fruiting by June next year.

He indicated that eight seedlings of mahogany had also been planted on an acre of land on the 15-acre experimental farm to provide permanent shade to replace the glyciridia in the near future.

Professor Tuah stressed that students from the University will be made to assist in the transfer of the technology to cocoa farmers early next year.

He hinted that the College would soon build Feed Trial House in which feed would be prepared as crop residue for feeding of animals during the dry season.