Chief, elders and Cocoa farmers of Wassa Afransie in the Wassa Amenfi East District of the Western Region, have organized a withering demonstration against the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the area, Hon Nicolas Amankwa for refusing to handover cocoa Mass spraying chemicals to them.
Already, there have been reports of hot exchanges between some of the farmers on one hand and the DCE on the other hand over the same issue.
It has been identified that the inability of some cocoa farmers to spray their farms has resulted in some farms being infested with the capsid virus.
The circumstances, which often leads to some cocoa farms being infested with the capsid virus that destroy cocoa beans, is considered a deliberate refusal of some farmers to have their farms sprayed, hence the decision by government to make available cocoa spraying chemicals and machines to serve that purpose.
The intention of government to ensure that cocoa farmers get access to these chemicals is to enable cocoa farmers increase their yield in the 2015/16 main crop season, which started on October 2, this year, if they embrace the free pests and diseases control (Mass Spraying Exercise) programme.
The introduction of the Hi-Tech programme is a testimony of the government’s determination to help improve the cocoa industry, and reduce poverty among farmers.
Meanwhile, situation in Wassa Afransie seems different as farmers have complained bitterly about the refusal of the DCE to release the chemicals for them to use in spraying their farms.
Meanwhile, in an interview with The New Crusading GUIDE some of the farmers alleged that the DCE was giving the chemical to National Democratic Congress (NDC) members at the detriment of other farmers who are branded NPP and other political party members and sympathisers.
They held the view that the politicization of the mass spraying exercise has totally collapsed the cocoa sector in the region and called for government’s intervention and the removal of the DCE from office to ensure that government’s vision for the cocoa sector is realised.
Meanwhile, the chief of Wasa Afransie, Nana Amoah Gyarfo II said they would advised themselves if the authorities failed to addressed their concerns and threatened to vote against the NDC in the coming elections should they continue to be ignored in the allocation of the cocoa spraying chemicals.
On his part, the Assembly man for Afransie Electoral Area Mr. Scout Amoah also urged the DCE to stay away from the shearing of the chemicals so as to avoid any further bloodbath between him and the farmers.
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