MP donates knapsack spraying machines to farmers

by Sebastian R. Freiku

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Effiduase-Asokore in the Ashanti Region, Lawyer Frank Boakye Agyen, has donated 25 knapsack spraying machines to cocoa farmers at Effiduase.

Making the presentation two Fridays ago, the MP stated that the spraying machines belong to the community, and that they would have to be managed by a three-member committee, comprising an assembly member, a gang sprayer, and an NPP co-ordinator from each electoral area.

Lawyer Agyen also stressed that donation of the machines was not to set up a rival gang group, but, rather to complement the effort of the government in boosting cocoa production in the country.

He again advised the beneficiaries to manage the operations of the machines properly, in order to serve as many cocoa farmers as possible. “I also urge you to adopt good cultural practices such as periodical maintenance of these machines,” the MP admonished.

Mr. Christopher Akumey, an extension officer at the district directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), advised the farmers to always get their chemicals from the right source, and from only approved agents, in order not to use the wrong chemicals which can destroy their cocoa seedlings.

The extension officer disclosed that the knapsack machine was most suitable for controlling black pod diseases.

The farmers were also told to properly wash the machine each time it was used for weedicide purposes.

Mr. Akumey emphasised that if that was not done, the left-over weedicide in the machine could destroy the young seedlings.

 

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