Nkawie: More than 11,000 cocoa farmers in the Nkawie Cocoa District of the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality are set to receive free fertilizer starting in May, as part of a significant initiative by COCOBOD. This was announced by Nii Noi Kootey, the Municipal Cocoa Officer, during a meeting with Wisdom Osei Boamah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Atwima Nwabiagya South.
According to Ghana Web, the distribution is a component of COCOBOD's Free Fertilizers Year (FFY) programme, aimed at bolstering farm productivity and national cocoa output. Kootey emphasized that the initiative is designed to fortify the cocoa sector by enhancing yields and revenue, while simultaneously improving the livelihoods of cocoa farmers. The beneficiaries will be chosen from Atwima Nwabiagya South, parts of Nwabiagya North, Kwanwoma, Atwima Mponua, and Amansie West districts. Each farmer will receive three bags of granula, a powdered fertilizer, per acre, along with an appropriate quantity of folia liquid fertilizer.
The support is specifically targeted at farmers managing matured and productive cocoa farms within the operational areas of the Nkawie Cocoa District. Boamah lauded COCOBOD's efforts in aligning with government initiatives to boost national cocoa productivity, describing cocoa as the country's economic backbone with far-reaching benefits for both rural communities and the international market.
The MCE reiterated the government's dedication to enhancing cocoa production and quality, as well as the economic welfare of cocoa farmers. He stressed the importance of good road networks, pricing systems, market access, and the provision of farm inputs as critical factors in supporting cocoa farmers. Boamah also encouraged farmers to follow agronomic best practices advised by Cocoa Extension Agents to ensure the programme's success.