Seek expert's advice in applying chemicals to cocoa trees

The Oda District Cocoa Officer of the COCOBOD, Albert Akomaning, has called on cocoa farmers to consult Agriculture experts in the course of applying chemicals to their trees. He said regular spraying of the cocoa trees and clearing of unwanted trees would lead to good yield, but the misapplication of the chemicals could destroy the trees. Mr Akomaning was speaking in an interview with the GNA at Akim Oda in the Birim Central Municipality.

He also advised that it is safer to plug any pod infected with the Black Pod Disease in the course of working on their farms. He said black pod also kills pepper and cassava trees. He also spoke about the cocoa swollen shoot disease saying currently there is no medicinal solution to combat it, except to cut down the affected trees.

Mr Akomaning advised the farmers to ensure that their process of fermenting the cocoa is accurate in order to make them thoroughly dry.