Nankese(E/R), Nov. 25, GNA – The Nankese Cocoa District of the Ghana Cocoa Board has launched a campaign dubbed “Operation 60 pods” to boost cocoa production in the area and the country.
Dr Emmanuel Nii Tackie Otu, Executive Director, Cocoa Health and Extension Division of Cocoa Board who launched the campaign, said it would focus on effective pollination to improve flowers of the cocoa trees which would in turn, increase the cocoa pods for production.
He disclosed that 100,000 pieces of forceps equipment had been procured to be distributed to farmers who were interested in the pollination exercise and added that such farmers would be trained before the exercise.
Dr Otu, indicated that 30,000 people have been recruited this year to do the pollination exercise across the country, however, there was the need for more hands, hence, the training of more farmers to do the pollination on their own farms to boost cocoa production.
He said about 301,500 hectares of cocoa farms representing 17 percent were affected with the cocoa disease, whiles 402,600 hectares of cocoa farms representing 23 percent were overaged nationwide, affecting production.
Ms Margaret Darko, Suhum Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) commended government’s contribution to the welfare of cocoa farmers and said initiatives such as the cocoa mass spraying, pruning, and pollination were aimed at boosting cocoa production to improve the livelihood of the cocoa farmers.
GNA