Chief Farmer cautions against bush fires

The Ashanti Regional Chief Farmer, Nana Kwame Amankwatia, has cautioned farmers against setting bushfires as the nation's enters the dry season. He said farmers should be more careful in the handling of naked fire as well have the courage to report those who start bushfires. Nana Amankwatia was addressing a meeting of the Ghana Cocoa Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association (GCCSFA) in Kumasi. District chief farmers from all the cocoa districts in the region attended the meeting, which provided a platform for them to discuss ways of increasing output. Nana Amankwatia encouraged colleague farmers to establish effective working relationship with the agriculture extension officers to enable them learn modern farming techniques. He said it was by so doing that they would increase crop yield and returns. He also appealed to the government to ensure timely bonus payment to farmers. Nana S.Y. Akuoko, Regional Vice Chairman GCCSFA, pleaded with the Cocoa Services Division of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to help the farmers with high yielding cocoa seedlings. This, he said, was necessary, if the nation was to achieve substantial increase in cocoa production. He also drew attention to the need for the farmers to give out farm lands to young people, who show interest in agriculture.