Allow cocoa trees affected by disease to be destroyed- Cocobod

Akim Aperade (E/R), July 9, GNA- The Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) Unit of the Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), has appealed to cocoa farmers whose farms were classified as swollen shoot diseased farms, to allow the unit to cut down the affected trees to prevent the disease from spreading to nearby farms.

Mr Winfred E. Amoah, the Eastern Regional Manager of the CSSVD gave the advise on Wednesday at a farmers' rally at Akim-Aperade in the Birim South of the Eastern Region.

He advised the affected farmers to allow labourers from the unit to enter their farms to cut down the diseased trees since that was the only means of controlling the pests.

Mr Amoah asked them to be prepared to replant their farms with hybrid cocoa, which is obtained mainly from cocoa stations. The District Cocoa Officer, Mr Albert Akomaning, said that the swollen shoot disease could not be controlled by any chemical as at now and said the effect of the disease could be detrimental to the cocoa farmer.

He, however, cautioned the farmers that failure on their part to replant their farms after two-and-half years would make them not eligible for grants.

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Yaw Amprofi, called on cocoa farmers to fully embrace government interventions such as the hi-tech fertilizer application and the mass spraying exercise to help boost cocoa production.

The District Quality Control Officer, Mr Adu Frempong, urged cocoa farmers to ensure that cocoa beans were well dried before sale and warned that those who would flout the directive could be prosecuted. He advised them not to sell cocoa to people who parade their communities with hanging scales.