Aboso Gold Fields Limited (AGL) has presented 2,172 bags of fertiliser to 360 cocoa farmers at Damang in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality if the Western Region to boost cocoa production.
This initiative, dubbed ‘Ghana Gold Fields Foundation Cocoa Support Programme’ which started about three years ago, has spent over GH¢304,000 to help create and sustain employment in the area of cocoa production.
Since its inception to date, over 4,000 bags of fertiliser have been distributed to these cocoa farmers in the company’s operational area.
Charles Kofi Nti, Relieving General Manager of AGL, in an address read for him at the fertilier presentation explained that “the Foundation has committed about GH¢8.76million of its resources to development of the agriculture sector”.
This, he mentioned, ranges from livestock production, production of vegetables, oil palm plantation, and organic vegetable production under the Youth in Organic Horticulture Production (YouHoP) among others.
“In 2018, AGL, in collaboration with the Huni Valley Cocoa Farmers Association of the Ghana Cocoa Sheanut Farmers’ Association and Damang Mine Consultative Farmers Association (DMCFA), began a programme to support cocoa farmers. This is because cocoa contributes significantly to Ghana’s GDP, and as a company we want to see our catchment communities become major producers,” he added.
He urged beneficiaries to comply with the farm management directive given by agriculture extension officers.
Gabriel Adjarogo, Prestea Huni Valley Director of Agriculture, said the cocoa crop is faced with soil nutrients exhaustion and pest attacks requiring regular farmer attention and good agricultural practices. He urged the cocoa farmers to ensure good pruning, timely weeding and pesticide application, and timely harvesting among others.
Nana Boakye, Municipal Chief Farmer, commended Gold Fields for their immense contributions toward development of farmers in the area.
