Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has revealed that cocoa yields could increase to over 1.5 kilogrammes per hectare (kg/ha) from the current national average estimated at 450kg/ha.
According to him, research shows that with the adoption of good agronomic practices such as the application of fertilisers, shade management, mistletoe removal, weeding, pest, and disease control, yields could be increase.
Speaking at the launch of the National Cocoa Rehabilitation programme at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western North Region, he indicated that data generated from October, 2006 to December, 2017 on a resurvey programme shows that cocoa swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD) is spreading at an alarming rate.
He stated that out of a total of 1,913.166 hectares of cocoa farms surveyed, 315,886.60 hectares of outbreak areas had been discovered, being 17% of the cocoa area, while over 23% of the total cocoa tree stock is over-aged (over 30 years).
This, he said, implies that 40% of Ghana cocoa farms are diseased, over-aged or moribund. To him, therefore, there was an urgent need to rehabilitate these farms and make them more productive.
According to him, the rehabilitation of diseased and over-aged cocoa farms involves cutting, treating, and replanting of affected trees.
He further stated that the National Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme, therefore, seeks to help increase and sustain cocoa production in Ghana, through cutting and replacing of old and diseased cocoa trees.
He disclosed that the objectives of the programme are aimed at assisting farmers to achieve higher productivity in the rehabilitated farms, and encourage them to adopt best agronomic practices and medium to high farming technologies through back-up efficient extension service delivery.
He stated that, the rehabilitation would also encourage farmers to replant moribund and CSSVD treated farms with a hybrid cocoa variety, which is high yielding, disease tolerant, and early bearing.
He expressed the hope that the programmes will enhance food production in the scheme’s areas through the cultivation of grains, tubers and plantains to support the School Feeding Programme, and to ensure food security.
He said the programme was also aimed to incorporate the planting of economic trees seedlings to provide permanent shade, and in long term, improve the ecosystem in light of climate change, and provide jobs for the rural communities, particularly the youth, to enhance their income and living standards, and motivate them to take to cocoa cultivation.
He disclosed that it would also enhance, increase, and sustain the national cocoa output in the long run.
The post COCOBOD anticipates high yields from cocoa if… appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS