He said the positive move by the government would prevent a glut on the world market and reduce the risk of price volatility.

Mr Asare-Oduro gave the hint when he addressed a farmers’ educational rally organised by the Akyem Oda District Cocoa office of the COCOBOD at Akyem Awisa in the Birim South District.

He educated farmers on the nutritional/health benefits of cocoa consumption and urged farmers to cultivate the habit of good health practices.

The Oda District Cocoa Officer, Mr Emmanuel Graham, said the government had adopted very effective measures to increase cocoa production this year.

He mentioned some of the measures as the recruitment and training of 180 workers to pollinate cocoa farms belonging to 1,144 cocoa farmers with each cocoa tree expected to bear between 100 and 150 pods.

Diseased cocoa trees

According to Mr Graham, COCOBOD would cut down all aged and diseased cocoa trees, replant and maintain them free of charge for three years, before handing them over to their owners, adding that the affected farmers would also be paid adequate compensation during the period.

He advised farmers to adopt proper cultural practices such as regular clearing of weeds, fertiliser application, spraying of pesticides and removal of mistletoes to increase production.

Awisa Krontehene

The Awisa Krontehene, Nana Otuo Kyei Bamfo II, who chaired the function, appealed to the government to expand the Bunso Cocoa University to offer essential courses for farmers to enhance increased production.

He also urged COCOBOD to redesign Oda and Boadua cocoa districts for the benefit of farmers.

Nana Kyei Bamfo enjoined the government to rehabilitate all roads in cocoa-growing areas to facilitate the movement of people and the haulage of cocoa to the marketing centres.

Price volatility

The Deputy Eastern Regional Chief Farmer, Mr Sampson Kwakye, commended the government for its initiative to check price volatility.

The District Extension Officer, Mr Foster Oyinka, announced that 1,500 people had been recruited into the Youth in Agriculture Programme in the area.

The 2016 National Best Youth Farmer, Mr Mustapha Yusif, advised the youth in the country to go into active cocoa farming for their own benefit and increase the nation’s foreign exchange earnings.