Swedru (C/R), Oct. 16, GNA – The Produce Buying Company (PBC) Limited at Swedru in the Central Region, has established a special welfare fund to improve the living conditions of cocoa farmers in the area.

Mr Kojo Attah Kraah, Managing Director of the Company, said this when he inaugurated the Regional five-member Society Farmers Committee, to manage the special fund, on Thursday at Swedru.

He said the fund would start operating from the 2011/2012 cocoa season and advised the marketing clerks of the PBC to assist the committee to operate the fund effectively to the benefit of beneficiaries.

Mr James Kofi Kutsoati, Central Regional Manager of PBC, asked cocoa farmers to consider themselves as partners of the Company, and to work hard to increase cocoa production.

He said the Company would provide vehicles, sacks, weighing scales and other materials and equipment to facilitate the purchase of cocoa in the Region.

Nana Kwesi Ofori, Central Regional Chief Farmer (cocoa), commended the Ghana Cocoa Board for rehabilitating roads in cocoa growing areas in the Region.