The second phase of a training workshop for 24 facilitators and six Agricultural Extension Officers in farmer-field schools in cocoa production, has taken place in Kumasi. The facilitators were from the Amansie West District of Ashanti. The workshop was organised by the Millennium Villages Project. The Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of the Millennium Villages Project, Isaac Kankam Boadu, said, both the first and the second phases of the training were to enhance the technical expertise of participants and also build their capacity to make informal decisions in crop management.
He said, the enthusiasm and participation shown by the farmers demonstrate the effectiveness of the farmer field school concept in transferring technologies to farmers as well as the adoption of good agricultural practices such as timely brushing of farms, pruning and fertilization by farmers which has increased yields. The Master Trainer of the Sustainable Free Crop Programme, Sylvanus Agordoku urged the participants to put what they have learnt into practice for the benefit of their communities.
The Regional Director of Ghana Cocoa Board, Dr. George Opoku said measures such as the cocoa-hi-tech and Disease and Pest Control Programme are being implemented to increase cocoa production to help meet the target of 1m tons per annum by 2010. The Manager of the Bonsaase Cluster and team leader of the Millennium Villages Project, Samuel Afram commended the Sustainable Tree Crops Programme, the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana and Family Health International for their collaboration and promised his outfit’s support to help eradicate poverty in the district.eeting was to review the activities of partners to ensure effective implementation of their activities.
