Cocoa farmers get bonus to maintain farms

Adwumapa Buyers Limited, a private cocoa buying company has introduced a bonus package to assist cocoa farmers to purchase insecticides.

Under the package, the company is paying 1,000 cedis on each bag of cocoa purchased from the seven cocoa areas it has been operating in the Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Western, Eastern and Central regions.

Mr Emmanuel Frank Taylor, Operations Manager of the company, who said this at a farmers' forum at Juabeso in the Juabeso-Bia District of Ghana and added that payment for the bonus has already begun.

He said the decision to provide the farmers with the support was taken with a view to helping them to control the black-pod.

Mr Taylor called on the farmers to take advantage of the package to maintain their farms in order to increase the yield.

He outlined plans by the company to assist the various societies to put up sheds to ensure proper storage of the commodity.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) Mr Benjamin Armah told the farmers to desist from smuggling cocoa into neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire.

He warned that the District Assembly would not compromise on smuggling and would do everything possible to bring to book those who engage in such acts of economic abotage.

Mr Armah spoke of the need for farmers to see to it that Ghana maintains the high quality of cocoa that has been internationally acclaimed.

Mr Kofi Asare, Finance and Administrative Officer of the company, gave assurance that they would continue to place high premium on the welfare of farmers by strengthening the various society committees to give farmers more say in the company's operation.

Four farmers, Nana Tabiri Gyansah, Madam Agnes Asantewaa, Madam Afua Darko and Mr Joseph Akom, who sold a total of 850 bags to the company last year, were honoured and presented with cash prizes.