Mass cocoa spraying gangs and supervisors in the Atwima-Mponua District of the Ashanti Region have appealed to the Ghana COCOBOD to replace machines being used for the exercise to ensure efficient spraying in the next season which begins in August this year. They complained that all the 37 spraying machines which were distributed to the 60 gangs in the District were old and not functioning well. The gangs made the appeal at a day's training programme, organized by Chemico Limited and CODAPEC, dealers in agro-chemicals for members of cocoa spraying gangs and their supervisors at Nyinahin in the District. They gangs also mentioned inadequate chemicals and the lack of spare parts as some of the problems affecting their operations. Dr. Anthony Richmond Cudjoe, the Acting Head of Entomology Division of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) at Tafo, advised the gangs to wear protective clothes during spraying exercise to prevent injuries. He said the new "Akate Master", which had been approved by the COCOBOARD was very effective and urged them to store the chemicals in their original containers and create special disposal sites for the containers. Paul Amo Korang, the District Cocoa Officer, warned the gangs against pilfering of the insecticides and urged them to form taskforces to check malpractices among members. Source: GNA