Business
Council Purchases N4.9m Chemicals For Cocoa Farmers
The Ikom Local Government Council of Cross River State, says it has purchased agro-chemicals worth N4.9 million for distribution to cocoa farmers in the area.
The Council Chairman, Dr Tony Ngban, disclosed this at the inauguration of the Task Force for the Eradication of Fake and Adulterated Chemicals.
He said that the state government had subsidised the cost of the chemicals which included Funguran-OH and Rudomil Gold by 50 per cent.
According to him, the council will further subsidise the cost by 20 per cent to make it affordable.
The chairman said the government’s involvement in the distribution of agro-chemicals was designed to save farmers from purchasing fake and adulterated chemicals.
He noted that fake and adulterated chemicals had not only reduced the quality of cocoa beans but also contributed to early demise of cocoa trees.
Ngban also said that the council planned to procure fertiliser for distribution to farmers at 20 per cent subsidy.
He, therefore, appealed to farmers to shun fake and adulterated chemicals, stressing that they are injurious to both their health and that of their crops.
The council boss advised the task force to ensure that substandard chemicals were eliminated from all markets in the area.
The Tide source reports that the task force is headed by Mr Victor Eyam Osim, the council’s Supervisor for Agriculture.