By: Priscilla Asante
The Demeter Ghana Limited in partnership with the CHED Division of Ghana COCOBOD has organised a trainer of trainer’s programme on sustainable farming for some cocoa farmers in the Eastern region.
The programme held in Koforidua, aimed to equip the cocoa farmers with essential skills to improve soil health, and adopt eco-friendly practices using the multi-nutrient sulphate cocoa fertilizers, AsaaseHene which will go a long way to drive sustainable growth in Ghana’s cocoa sector.
Demeter Ghana Limited, producers of AsaaseHene, is one of Ghana’s Agricultural inputs and services providers. Founded in 2024, the company has been dedicated to the Agricultural development of the country with the sole aim to combat problems faced by Ghanaian farmers and to close the yield gaps.
AsaaseHene is a multi-nutrient sulphate cocoa fertilizer which Cocoa Research of Ghana trials have shown provide an over 70 percent increase in cocoa yields.
It is suitable for all kinds of soil, organic and has a prolonged nutrient release rate with a low salinity index making it ideal for cocoa production. It also provides both micro and macro nutrients needed for cocoa yields.
The country Director of Demeter Ghana, William Hunt, in an interview with GBC News, noted that cocoa is the backbone of the Agricultural economy and the country as a whole. He added that COCOBOD is the best partner to reach the cocoa farmers with the best fertilizer hence the need to partner COCOBOD to have an impact.
He said his outfit also exist to identify challenges faced by farmers and design interventions to ensure high returns.
Mr. Hunt said, the product which has been tested by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, CRIG and have been revealed that they have no adverse effect on the cocoa tress but rather increase their productivity and profits.
The Acting Executive Deputy Director, Cocoa Health Extension Division of COCOBOD, Abdul Majid Mumuni, said COCOBOD is the regulator of cocoa in the country.
He said the health of the cocoa tree is very important just like health is important to human beings.
Mr. Mumuni said, his outfit is pleased to be associated with Demeter Ghana since they share the same vision and goals which is geared towards promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable farming practices which will lead to increase in productivity.
The Deputy Director at the Bunso Cocoa College, Dr. Alfred Arthur, noted that AsaaseHene was submitted to GRIG in 2019 for testing and went through the needed testing protocols. A Cocoa Farmer from Akyem Oda, Solomon Boadi said the fertilizer has helped increased his farm yields.
He noted that he was given six bags of the AsaaseHene for trials and noticed improvement in his crops after two weeks of application. He urged cocoa farmers to patronize the fertilizer to improve their yield.
