By Kwabia Owusu-Mensah, GNA
Kumasi, Aug. 28, GNA – The Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union (KKFU) has made strides to leverage on technology to provide enhanced extension services to help members increase the yield of cocoa per acre as a means to improve their incomes.
In this regard, it has established a state-of-the art tele-agricultural centre to help improve upon the knowledge base of members on new agricultural technologies and techniques while strengthening the linkage between farmers and relevant technical agricultural services.
Madam Fatima Ali, President of KKFU, who made this known, said the Union was in talks with MTN Ghana, to provide over 6,000 mobile phones to support members in the tele-agriculture initiative.
Speaking during an interaction with journalists in Kumasi, she said, the new technology would also help to provide timely information to farmers on weather, farm inputs and markets.
The interaction was to introduce the vision of the new executive of KKFU and seek the support of all stakeholders to prosecute the vision.
Madam Ali said KKFU, which was established 25 years ago, has over 100,000 members who are working hard to produce quality cocoa beans for the country.
Mr Samuel Adimado, Managing Director of Kuapa Kokoo Limited (KKL), said the company has been a major player in the local purchases of cocoa beans, adding that, the company has increased its market share from 4.3 to 7 per cent.
He said the company has this year alone, employed 60 university graduates to support its operations.
Mr Adimado said management was working to strengthen its internal mechanisms to fight corruption and called on all stakeholders to assist the management to achieve that goal.
Mr Nelson Adubofour, Acting Executive Secretary of KKFU, said the union’s sustainable development programme was anchored in four pillars.
He said they are production enhancement and environmental protection, alternative livelihood interventions to improve on incomes of members, provision of health care services to members and child protection as well as ethical labour interventions.
GNA
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