COCOBOD WON'T COUNTENANCE BAD PRACTICES — OSAM-DADE (PAGE 20)

Story: Tim Dzamboe, Ho

THE Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) will not countenance bad practices, which may undermine efforts to produce high quality beans for the international markets.
 It will ensure the use of only prescribed chemicals on farms in order not to lose the premium attached to Ghana’s cocoa by major international consumers.
 The Volta Regional Manager of the Quality Control Division of COCOBOD, Mr Okwan Osam–Dade, said this at a farmers’ rally held at Kpedze last Tuesday.
 He mentioned the brand names of authorised chemicals for use on farms as Callisulfan 350EC; Thiorex 35 EC; Endosulfan 35EC and Thiodan 35EC.
 Mr Osam-Dade expressed regret that an analysis had revealed that residues of unauthorised chemicals had been detected in cocoa, adding that such chemicals were Fenvalerate, Promecarb, Chlorpyrifos and Pirimiphos usually bought without the supervision of extension officers.
 He said the nation would not compromise quality assurance and would ensure that standards would be met in accordance with yardsticks set by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
  In an address read on his behalf, the Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Mawutor Goh, commended cocoa farmers on sustaining the industry.
 He appealed to the COCOBOD to assist farmers to rehabilitate their burnt cocoa farms and that they should introduce more private buyers to help reduce smuggling.
Mr Goh also called for scholarships for farmers’ wards.
 The Regional Manager of the Produce Buying Company, Mr Prosper Zegbla, announced that a third cocoa seed garden was to be established at Saviefe in the Ho Municipality and urged farmers to take advantage of it to plant high yielding and early maturing species on their farms.
 He said Ghana’s cocoa was on high demand on the international market, and therefore asked the youth to learn more on crop husbandry to generate income for themselves.
  The Ho Municipal Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Anthony Tabi, advised the farmers to use agro-chemicals judiciously.
 He also warned that importers of cocoa were not ready to buy cocoa from countries, which engaged child labour to the detriment of the full development of children.