By Doris Ampommea and Sarfoa Felicia
Cocoa farmers in the country are up in arms against galamsey operators whom they accuse of running down their farming activities through their galamsey operations. This according to them is because these activities, if not checked could soon result in cocoa processing companies not getting enough cocoa beans for processing purposes.
The call was made by triple best farmer award winner, Mr. George Asamoah when he spoke on Tuesday’s Akuafo Se Sen on the Rite Morning Ride with Owuraku Asamoah. Mr. Asamoah who was adjudged the 2006 regional best farmer for the Brong Ahafo region, 2009 district best farmer as well as 2014 national best farmer took pains to reveal to Rite FM some of the dire challenges farmers are going through.
He particularly mentioned the problem of galamsey operators, lamenting that the search for gold cannot result in the destruction of cocoa lands. He accused unscrupulous galamsey operators of cutting down cocoa trees in their search of gold.
Mr. Asamoah particularly urged authorities to stand up and confront the canker since according to him; the fall in cocoa production in the country is a direct result of the activities of galamsey operators.
Moreover, the cocoa farmers are also at their wits end following complaints of government delay in the release of agro-chemicals and fertilizers. This according to them could soon result in cocoa processing companies not getting enough cocoa beans for processing purposes.
Mr. Asamoah also mentioned fire outbreaks in most of the cocoa farms as another major cause of the declination in cocoa production in Ghana.
Source: ritefmonline.org
