DCE warns farmers against smuggling of cocoa

New Baika (V/R), July 19, GNA - Mr James Dogbe, Hohoe District Chief Executive (DCE) has called on cocoa farmers in the region to be disciplined and refrain from smuggling the commodity to neighbouring Togo. The DCE made the call at a farmer's forum organised by the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease Unit (CSSVD) of the Ghana Cocoa Board at New-Baika in the Jasikan District. It was aimed at sensitising the farmers on the control and prevention of swollen shoot virus in the cocoa industry.

Mr Dogbe noted that the government derives most of its revenue from the cocoa industry and would not remain unconcerned for few disgruntled farmers to smuggle the produce for their personal gains. The DCE said government has put in place adequate measures to prevent the smuggling of cocoa to Togo, adding, "Anyone caught in the act would be termed as economic saboteur and would be made to face the full rigours of the law".

Mr Dogbe, therefore, advised the chiefs, opinion leaders and assembly members living along the country's borders with Togo to expose the smugglers. "We need money to rehabilitate our schools, hospitals, roads and provide other basic amenities. Government would not sit down unconcerned and allow few people to damage the economy of the state". Mr Kyei Mensah, Volta Regional Manager of CSSVD enumerated the harmful effects of the swollen shoot disease on the production of cocoa and advised farmers to report the outbreak of the disease in their localities for prompt action. He said, apart from government paying 1.2 million cedis per hectare to affected farmers, which would be treated by the CSSVD, the unit would supply farmers with improved hybrid materials to re-plant their farms free of charge.

Mr Mensah said as at June, this year, government has paid a total of 74 million cedis for 62.03 hectares of treated cocoa farms in the region adding that, farmers who maintain their planted farms are paid 1.24 million cedis per hectare after one year period. Mr Paul Adu Gyamfi, Deputy Regional Manager of CSSVD said government has come out with four interventions to save the cocoa industry from collapse.

Mr Gyamfi asked farmers to spray their farms against black pod and Capsid diseases, which is gaining grounds in the region to supplement government's effort.

Mr Bediako Addy, Regional Manager of the Produce Buying Company (PBC) disclosed that cocoa production went down in the region by 100 per cent last year through smuggling. "We, last two years had 3,000 bags of cocoa from the Baika and its environ but only had 1,700 bags of cocoa from the same area last year". He hoped farmers would rally behind government and contribute towards reconstruction of the country by sending their cocoa to the approved buying centres.

Mr Willie Agbley, Hohoe District Chief Farmer praised government for its assistance to cocoa farmers in the region to revamp the industry. He expressed gratitude to the Minister of Food and Agriculture for opening chemical cocoa input stores at Jasikan, Kadjebi and Hohoe districts to retail chemicals to farmers at affordable prices.