Agri National

Bad Agricultural Practices to Blame for Decline in Coconut Production

One cannot underestimate the uniqueness of coconut and its ability to revitalize the human body from fatigue and replenish the circulatory system. However, its production stages have today received a gnashing rebuke by the Green Coast Group Consult, GCGC, a group which is championing the lead to improve the sector.

Most farmers in the country lack good agricultural practices in coconut production, a situation which greatly affects the industry. Mr. Kwaku Boateng, CEO of the Green Coast Group Consult revealed this in an interview with Krobea Asante Tofepa Ntomentwene, a Journalist at Power Africa Multimedia, and former Morning Show host at Rite FM.

According to Mr. Boateng, farmers who venture into the sector should acquire enough knowledge and the technical know – how.  He also blamed the non-adherence to Good Agricultural Practices, GAP, as being responsible for the low production levels and inability to produce to meet international demands.

Mr. Boateng mentioned that land selection, pruning, regular maintenance and weed control, fertilizer application and buying seedlings from untrusted sources is to be eschewed. He advised that, farmers who fail to keep weeds under control will have grass cutters disturbing their plantations and therefore stressed on the need to adhere to such practices. He also encouraged farmers to adopt the right spacing of 25ft-27ft to have quality yield.

The CEO of GCGC also tasked farmers to improve upon their skills in coconut farming by watching television programs and listening to agricultural radio talk shows. He was quick to thank Angel Television, for their immense contributions towards the education of farmers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) through the programme “Akuafoo Adanfo” in Coconut farming.

“We have started an advocacy for change and hopefully farmers will help build a resilient coconut industry in the country,” he added. Mr. Boateng reiterated that farmers who are interested in the coconut industry have many opportunities from Green Coast as its outfit is constantly developing projects to employ many youth in its value chain.

In conclusion, he ascertained that farmers who adopt good practices are always bound to harvest for profit. However, those who tend to ignore such directives reap barely anything after so many years of toil, time and financial inputs.

Source: Krobea Asante/Ritefmonline.org

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