Cocoa farmers receive free Capsid-Control Insecticide

Tepa (Ash), Dec. 16-Cocoa farmers in Ahafo-Ano North District in Ashanti Region have received 4,800 litres of confidor, a capsid-control insecticide worth GH=A2 192,000 to spray their farms. Mr. Patrict Kwasi Wiredu, the District Chief Technical Assistance of Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease Control (CSSVD) Unit, who supervised the distribution of the insecticide at Tepa said, each of the beneficiary farmers received one litre of the insecticide costing GH=A2 40 after submitting their passbooks for inspection and necessary particulars taken. He advised the farmers to supervise the used of the insecticide themselves, but not to leave it in the hands of their caretakers because of the high cost of the chemical at the open market.

Mr. Wiredu said the spraying of the capsid alone will not help them to get the needed yield; they must constantly control the weeds, prune trees, cut mistletoes from cocoa trees and control other agents which bring about black-pod disease.

He advised absentee farmers who leave their cocoa farms in the hands of caretakers to constantly visit the farms and ensure proper farm management.

In an interview with some of the farmers, they commended the government for listening to their plea and making it possible for them to get the insecticides, which cost GH=A2 50 on the market, free of charge