The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), through its subsidiary, Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), is embarking on a countrywide intensive farmer education on the correct usage of “Transform Akate”, a new anti-capsid insecticide that fights chronic Capsid pest infestation on cocoa farms.
This follows the launch of the product in the country with the goal of ensuring high patronage to achieve the overall objective of increased cocoa per hectare yield, and also the safety of user farmers and the environment.
Mr Samuel Sarpong, the National Director of CHED, launching the product at a grand durbar t at Antoakrom, in the Amansie-West District of Ashanti, said the new product, now being distributed freely to farmers, would provide a lasting and effective antidote to Capsid (Akate) pests that invades and ravishes pre-harvest cocoa farms.
The chronic pest infestation has been found to be undermining per hectare yield and by extension, the aggregate countrywide cocoa production.
Proper usage and high patronage can therefore scale up not only cocoa production but returns on the investments of all players in the cocoa production value chain, including farmers.
The occasion brought together International and Local Representatives of the Dow/Corteva Company Limited and AgriPlus Limited – manufacturers and distributors of “Transform Akate”, the management staff of COCOBOD, Regional, District and Community Chief Farmers as well as cocoa farmers, among others.
Mr Sarpong affirmed COCOBOD’s commitment to support the government in its bid to sustain high cocoa production in the Country, by doing all it takes to ensure that the quality of Ghana cocoa is not compromised in any way on the local and international markets.
Mr. Kwadwo Danso, the Ashanti Regional CHED Manager, confirmed the product’s high potency and safety on users and the environment, saying that, it had no harmful residual effect after having gone through series of tests at the Cocoa Research Institute at New Tafo, near Koforidua, in the Eastern Region during the last two years.
Mr. Alain Pescay, Business Director of Dow/Corteva Company Ltd. in charge of North, West and Central Africa said his company’s vision and mission is geared towards supporting the improvement and sustaining of the agricultural value chain, especially the cocoa sector in Ghana.
Key account manager of Corteva Company LTD in Ghana and Nigeria Alhaji Ahmed Abubakar said the ‘Transform Akate’ product had been introduced and marketed in Ivory Coast already and is now in high demand due to it’s effectiveness.
Mr. Stephen Appiah Yeboah, the Sales and Marketing Manager of AgriPlus Ltd. said the product, which would initially be distributed free of charge to cocoa farmers, through COCOBOD, would be available on the local market next year for purchase, adding that, strong measures are being implemented to forestall imitations.
Nana Samuel Yaw Akuoko, the Ashanti Regional Chief Farmer, commended COCOBOD and partners for the initiative and urged the cocoa farmers to cooperate with CHED and their Extension Agents in the distribution and usage of the product.
Ashanti regional Chief Farmer Nana Yaw Akuoku commended Cocobod and it’s partners for the initiative and urged farmers to adhere to all necessary instructions with regards to the product usage.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/ Evans Agyei Sikapa
