Agricultural Development Bank Limited (ADB) has presented knapsack sprayers and other assorted prizes including farming inputs to the winners of the ADB Cocoa Akuafo Abasobo Savings Promotion.

The promotion which was in partnership with the German and International Development Cooperation   (GIZ) was targeted at Cocoa farmers in the areas of Brekum, Dorma, New Edubiase, Kade and Akim Oda in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions who were part of the GIZ-COCOBOD Farmers Business School Programme.

The savings promotion that was instituted in November 2014 to June 2015 was meant to reward specifically cocoa farmers under the GIZ-COCOBOD programme by encouraging them to improve their savings culture whilst earning the opportunity to win prizes.

Farmers who opened accounts during the period of the promotion were rewarded instantly with assorted ADB souvenirs and the 10 highest savers at the end of the promotion qualified to win knapsack sprayers. Other consolation prizes were given to over 100 cocoa farmers who also participated in the promotion.

At a ceremony to present the prizes to the farmers in Kade, the Executive Head of Agric Finance of ADB, Sylvia Nyante, said “the promotion was designed to help Cocoa farmer’s to save money for investments into their cocoa farms and also have access to loans and other wide range of services from ADB specifically for farmers”.  

“The Promotion was not a game of chance but a way to simply reward any graduate farmer of the GIZ-COCOBOD Business School who opens an account with ADB” she explained.

Sylvia Nyante described the promo as successful and the interest shown has led to the re-commencement of the promo from the end of 2015 to 2016.

“ADB is delighted with the participating farmers from the GIZ-COCOBOD Business School in the promo and farmers have also expressed the benefits they have derived and we would like to use this opportunity to re-launch the ADB Cocoa Akuafo Abasobo Savings Promo with improved prizes next year”, Mrs Sylvia Nyante announced.

Chairman of the Kade Cocoa Farmers Association, Emmanuel Kofi Bonnie expressed gratitude to ADB for the promotion. “Looking at the amount of money some of us have saved with ADB and the prizes we have won it is very overwhelming what ADB has done. This gesture is really inspiring and has encouraged us to save with ADB”.