The Twifo Oil Palm Plantations (TOPP) Limited, is to hold separate awards days for the company's out-growers and small holder plantation owners in June next year. The Managing Director of the company, Mr Neneyo Mate-Kole, announced this at an annual workers' durbar and awards day held at Ntafrewaso at the weekend. He said the company was registering plantations of out-growers and small holders that were currently yielding fruits, with the view to not only give them technical advice, but also financial support to maintain their farms. Mr Mate-Kole appealed to all oil palm plantation owners in the area to participate in the scheme. He said output from the crop purchased outside the company's production dropped significantly. The company he said purchased 32,715 tons of fresh fruit bunches valued at over ¢21 billion as against40,773 last year. The Managing Director expressed regret that some local farmers in the District refused to sell to the company due to higher prices offered by competition, saying, "and we have to travel far in search of crop". He reaffirmed the company's commitment to provide ready market for their produceSource: GNA