Manfo, (Ash), June 17, GNA - The Cocoa Swollen Shoot and Viral Disease

Control Unit (CSSVDCU) of the COCOBOD has implemented vigorous cross-cutting initiatives to rehabilitate and maintain cocoa farms.

This would help the country to also reclaim the number one position in world cocoa production as the per acre yield would increase. The programme also hopes to attract the youth into cocoa production. This way, the goal of increasing the country's production level from the current 700,000 metric tonnes to one million in the next two years is expected to be achieved.

Ghana is now the world third leading producer of cocoa, coming after Indonesia and Cote d' Ivoire.

The Reverend K. Abeka Awusi, Executive Director of CSSVDCU, said at a farmers rally to launch the rehabilitation and maintenance programme at Manfo, in the Ahafo-Ano North District, that there would be massive cutting down of swollen shoot and viral disease-infested cocoa trees this year. The aged ones would also be cut down. He said about 15 million hi-tech cocoa seedlings would be replanted free of charge in the affected farms alongside the supply of highly subsidized fertilizers to farmers.

Adequate compensation, he said, was going to be paid for each cocoa tree cut down and that farm labourers would be on hand to assist the farmers to replant their farms.

He said these initiatives together with the mass spraying exercise and other incentives would significantly help to increase crop yield, reduce poverty among farmers and encourage the youth to go into cocoa farming. Rev. Awusi said one of the major challenges militating against the eradication of the swollen shoot disease was the farmers' opposition to the cutting of infested trees and expressed confidence that the new initiatives would motivate them to readily accept the destruction of infested farms. Mr Samuel Gyimah Gyamfi, Ashanti Regional Manager of CSSVDCU, appealed to the farmers to take keen interest in the programme and help to make it successful. Mr Addai Amankwaa, the District Chief Executive, advised the farmers to see their farms as a business venture and embrace the programme to boost returns.

He said the rehabilitation scheme was part of the government's Better Ghana agenda to increase cocoa production and bring down poverty in rural communities. Nana Kwame Ntim II, Paramount chief of Manfo Traditional Area, suggested to the CSSVDCU to employ the local people to undertake the tree cutting exercise in their communities. 17 June 10