CRIG TASKED TO INTENSIFY RESEARCH ON COCOA (BACK PAGE)

THE Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, has called on the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) to intensify research into cocoa production to bring to the barest minimum, cocoa diseases and other factors that adversely affect cocoa production.
This, he noted, would boost cocoa production to ensure better remuneration for farmers, thereby alleviating poverty in the country.
Mr Baah-Wiredu made the call in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Professor Djan Baffour, at the launch of the 70th anniversary of CRIG at Koforidua yesterday.
The event was on the theme: ”The role of research in the sustainable production of Cocoa and other mandated crops in Ghana”.
Mr Baah-Wiredu said since the cocoa industry faced challenges such as pesticide residues and other diseases, more research and education were required to reduce to the barest minimum the effects of such problems.
In this regard, he stressed the need for better understanding of the use of inputs such as pesticides and fertilisers and the adoption of recommended agronomic fermentation and drying practices to meet the quality expected on the international market.
For his part, the Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Mr Isaac Osei, said cocoa production had increased from 300,000 to 800,000 tons within the last eight years and expressed the hope that by 2010, Ghana would be able to produce one million tons of the crop per annum.
He attributed the increase to research and prudent measures instituted by CRIG and the COCOBOD.
The Executive Director of CRIG, Dr Yaw Ampomah, said since cocoa played an important role in the country’s economy, his outfit was poised to conduct further research to develop early yielding and disease-resistant varieties, to control capsid and promote various good agronomic practices, among others, to enhance cocoa production in the country.
The Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Oti Boateng, who chaired the function, commended the management and staff of CRIG for their hard work which had resulted in an increased cocoa production in the country.