COCOBOD imports 20,000 motorized slashers for cocoa farmer; bans use of weedicides

The Ghana Cocoa Board(COCOBOD) has imported 20,000 motorized slashes(weeding machine) for Cocoa farmers in order to accelerate the production of Cocoa.

The machines, will, however, be sold to only cocoa farmers who are members of a cooperative.

The Deputy CEO of COCOBOD in Charge of Operations Emmanuel A. Opoku, made the disclosure while speaking at the 25th Annual Delegates Conference of the Kuapa Kokoo Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketers Union Ltd in Kumasi.
He said the motorized slashers will also help the fast production of cocoa since farmers will be able to clear and maintain large-sized cocoa farms with ease and pace.

Mr. Opoku noted that the introduction of the motorised slashers will help stop the frequent application of weedicides which has overly deteriorated the soil nutrients necessary for the growth of cocoa.

“Stop using the weedicides, instead you have to use the motorized slashes to weed around your cocoa trees because apart from the fact that it kills the cocoa it also drives away worms, snails and other animals. The weedicide also kills mushrooms that are found under cocoa trees. The Chinese are causing us much harm, I beg you don’t let us continue to buy weedicides from the Chinese and cause more problems for ourselves. The motorized slashes are the way to go.”

He added that the slashers are expected to be distributed to farmers through the various cocoa cooperatives in the country very soon.

Farmers who are not in cooperatives will not be beneficiaries.

Source: Kasapafmonline.com/102.5m