Touton Ghana, an International Cocoa Purchasing Company, has paid 537,306 US dollars as bonus to 6,000 farmers in the country for producing quality cocoa beans last year.

Out of the amount, 232,600 US dollars would be given to the farmers in the form of direct cash and 'premium items' comprising 242 motorised sprayers and 6,050 Wellington boots.

The remaining 304,706 US dollars would be used to run certification programme as well as establish and maintain infrastructure to manage the certification programme for the farmers.

Mr Kojo Atta-Krah, Managing Director of the Produced Buying Company (PBC), disclosed these in a speech read on his behalf at a ceremony to distribute the items to some of the beneficiary cocoa farmers, in Sunyani.

He said each of the 21 cocoa societies in the PBC Sunyani District received two motorized spraying machines, while 1,500 of the farmers received a Wellington boot each.

Mr Atta-Krah explained that last year, Touton, an external cocoa trading company based in France through PBC entered into partnership with 6,000 farmers in Sunyani and Kassapin in the Brong-Ahafo, and Nkawie, Juaso, New Edubiase 'A' and New Edubiase 'B', in the Ashanti.

He said the programme would provide training for the cocoa farmers to enable them to increase cocoa production, their income and livelihood.

Mr Atta-Krah said the partnership proposed to get 5,000 tonnes of certified cocoa but it produced 6,153 tonnes of which 4,652 tonnes of the beans were sold adding that the bonus were based on only the beans sold.

He said premium due the farmers would be paid at the various societies, adding that to ensure transparency; every farmer would be given a copy of the payment voucher.

Mr Atta-Krah explained that the programme had included 5,000 farmers with the expectation that within the next two years, 25 per cent of the farmers would be trained to undergo certification.

He challenged Touton Ghana to look for ready market for certified cocoa beans to meet the two years projection as the farmers were committed to producing above the target.

Mr Charles Teller, Touton Ghana Country Director, said the company would continue to assist cocoa farmers to increase production in the next five years.

He advised the farmers to adhere to best agriculture practices and ensure that they applied approved chemicals on their farms to increase quality yields.

Nana Akore Korsah, Sunyani District Chief Farmer, commenced the PBC for supporting cocoa farmers, and appealed to the company to provide the farmers with chemicals for the spraying of their farms.