COCOBOD To Increase Local Production Of Fertilizer

Saturday February 06, 2010
By G. B. Gibbah, Tema

GHANA Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is to increase the local production of fertilizer and other agrochemicals in support of cocoa products and other crops.

Dr. Percival yaw Kuranchie, Board Chairman of COCOBOD made this known here yesterday when five members of the board paid a familiarisation visit to Chemico Limited, a wholly Ghanaian owned business entity which formulates and distributed fertilizers and agrochemicals.

The visit was part of a programme for the new board to familiarise itself with the operations of stakeholder agencies.

Dr. Kuranchie said the plan to increase local production of fertilizer and agrochemicals was in line with government’s policy to give the opportunity to local industries with the requisite capacity to contribute their quota to the development of the country.

That, according to him, would generate more employment, tax revenue and value among others.

The Board Members were accompanied by Alhaji Dramani Egala, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD in charge of Operations and Dr. Yaw Adu Ampomah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Agronomy and Quality Control.

They were conducted round the Insecticide Plant, Herbicide plant, the fertilizer ware house and plant and the paint plant by Mr. Kwadwo K. Donkoh, Deputy Managing Director.

COCOBOC and Chemico Limited jointly, own Tema Chemicals Limited, which is an insecticide formulation company.

Chemico Limited a management buy out from ICI Ghana in 1976 has a production capacity produce of 180,000 tonnes of fertilizer, three million litres of insecticides and 600,000 tonnes of fungicides annually.

It has 350 employees and supplies a third of the chemical needs of COCOBOD.

Dr. Kuranchie said the visit provided them with the opportunity to appreciate the import of cocoa production.

Mr. Donkoh said the company was focused on efficient, punctual and precise delivery of crop protection chemicals.

He said with close liaison with major foreign chemical manufacturer and countries product development, the company was able to meet the evolving needs of agriculture and industry and get the bench mark for quality in sub-region.

Dr. Donkoh said by repacking its products, the firm had added value to insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and fertilizer in affordable sizes for farmers.

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