Farmers, mostly from Apoli Zevor in the Akyemmansa District, who have illegally cultivated cocoa and food crops on portions of the Birim Forest Reserve, on Friday had their farms destroyed and nine of them were apprehended.The suspects, George Dogbe, Yayra Bomedi, Peter Godogbe, Mensah Vincent, Francis Godogbe, Eric Godogbe, Dziwornu Mensah, Domenyo Bonuedi and Mawunyo Ahorsu were handed over to the Police at Akyem Swedru.Mr Wilson Asare, Akyem Oda District Forestry Manager, who led a combined team of Military personnel, the Police and Forest Guards to carry out the exercise confirmed the story to GNA.He said the nine farmers were among a group of farmers who had a hint of an operation by Forest Guards and wore red bands and armed themselves with single barrel guns and cutlasses in readiness for a "battle" with the guards.Mr Asare said when the farmers saw that the team comprised security personnel, some of them managed to escape by swimming across the Birim River to Apoli Zevor but the unlucky ones were arrested. He said that following persistent encroachment of the Forest Reserve, he met with farmers in the district and educated them about the consequences of their activities but to no avail.Mr Asare said that in 2008, with the support of the District Police Commander, he organised a meeting with the chiefs and representatives of the farmers to educate them on Forest Protection laws.He said the farmers were also cautioned that if they continued farming within the Forest Reserve, their farms would be destroyed.Mr Asare stressed: "When I realize that the farmers were adamant, l organized another meeting with them in the Forest Reserve and educated them on the need to protect the forest but all fell on deaf ears".He said that the destroyed farms would be planted with tree seedlings to regenerate the forest to help protect the ecology.Some of the suspects told the GNA that even though they were aware that their activities were illegal, they had no choice as a result of their inability to acquire alternative farm lands.Source: GNA