The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has introduced a new agro-chemical that treats soil acidity and improves yields on cocoa farms.
The chemical, known as Omya Calciprill, is a high quality soil conditioner from Germany that rids the soil of its acidity, leading to increased yields as well as improved crop quality.
A pilot test conducted by some farmers in the Western and Western North regions revealed that the agro chemical reduces acidity of the soils to acceptable levels on cocoa farms and increases yields by 70 per cent within two years of trials.
The field study was supported by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana.
The producer of the agro-chemical, Beft Agro Limited, has worked closely with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and COCOBOD for many years to ensure excellence in crops and cocoa production.
This came to light at a two-day training seminar organised by the Seed Production Division of COCOBOD for some cocoa farmers at Wassa Akropong.