Cocoa farmers in the Eastern Region have sent an SOS to government to give priority to the protection of cocoa farms against destructive activities of timber merchants and galamsey operators, just as has been done for rubber plantations in the Western Region.
The call follows the constant felling of trees by timber merchants on cocoa farms. According to the Chief Cocoa Farmer for New Nsutam in the Eastern Region, Yaw Boateng galamsey operators use excavators to dig trenches, which destroy the trees.
Mr. Boateng said cocoa production is dwindling and if care is not taken, inputs to help increase yield would be a waste because of activities of timber companies and galamsey operators.
