Aboso Goldfields Ltd through the Goldfields Ghana Foundation has supported 360 cocoa farmers in the Prestea -Huni Valley district of the Western region with 2,175 bags government-approved fertilizers.

Gold Fields Ghana Limited, three years ago instituted the Cocoa Input Support programme to provide selected cocoa farmers with bags of government-approved cocoa fertilizers in their host communities.

The initiative according to acting Community Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement Manager at Gold Fields AGL Maud Ofosua  Ofori, became necessary some three years ago when they realize the significance of cocoa to their host communities and Ghana`s GDP.

She said, “We began this three years ago to boost annual cocoa production in our host communities, to help create and sustain employment in the area of cocoa production and to establish the fact that mining could coexist with farming.”

“As a company, we want to see our catchment communities become major producers,” she added.

Municipal Director of Agriculture Gabriel Adjargo urged the cocoa farmers to be innovative and adopt best farming practices to help increase production after receiving the fertilizer.

“The level of farmers` profit is largely dependent on the level of the crop productivity, so after receiving today`s fertilizer I encourage you to ensure good pruning, timely weeding, mistletoe removal, rationale pesticide application and timely harvest`` he told the farmers.

He also commended Gold Fields (AGL) for supporting the farmers and urged the company to continue doing more for his farmers.

Relieving General Manager Aboso Gold Fields Limited, Charles Kofi Nti urged all beneficiaries including the new batch to comply with the farm management directives as given by the agriculture extension officers.