The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Operations at the Produce Buying Company Limited, Alfred Ofori Annye, has admonished cocoa farmers to be on the lookout for fake chemicals which have flooded markets in the country.
Mr. Alfred Ofori Annye noted that some miscreants have taken advantage of cocoa farmers by selling fake chemicals to them.
Mr. Annye urged the farmers to deal with only accredited companies for their chemicals.
The Deputy CEO of the Produce Buying Company gave the advice at Wamfie in the Dormaa East District of the Brong Ahafo Region during a health screening exercise for cocoa farmers in the area.
Over 1,000 cocoa farmers were screened for Hepatitis B, HIV and Tuberculosis.
According to Mr. Annye, most cocoa farmers in the country are not much concerned about their health, but are more concerned about their farming activities.
He noted that all the policies introduced by COCOBOD to boost cocoa production would be a mirage if cocoa farmers in the country are not healthy to go about their activities.
This he said motivated PBC to initiate the health screening programme.
“The health of cocoa farmers cannot be taken for granted. If COCOBOD is ensuring that cocoa trees are healthy to produce more to achieve the needed yield, we are also going to help the farmers to ensure that their health is the best to enable them go about their normal duties,” Mr. Annye noted.
He commended the Youth Employment Authority (YEA), Chemico Limited and New Okaf, Rainbow Agro-Sciences for supporting the ongoing programme.
The District Chief Executive for Dormaa East, Emmanuel Kofi Agyeman, advised the cocoa farmers in his district not to cut down their cocoa trees to plant cashew.
Mr. Agyeman said cocoa farmers in the district would continue to receive support to increase their produce.
Cocoa farmers at Konongo in the Ashanti Region and Bonsu Nkwanta in the Western Region would also be taken through the same exercise.
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By: Michael Sarpong Mfum/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
The post PBC warns cautions farmers against fake chemicals appeared first on Citi Newsroom.
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