The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), citing low yields, is preparing to cut down overaged cocoa trees and those affected by swollen shoot disease.

“17 percent of the tree stock has been affected by the swollen shoot disease so we need to cut them and replant. Another 23 percent of the cocoa trees are either in moribund farms or over-aged,” CEO of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, has said.

“By overage, it means the yield is insignificant; you get fewer pods on the cocoa tree when you go to harvest. That is not the ideal situation where it could be between 80 to 100 pods, it means we need to cut them and that is what we have out together and called the cocoa rehabilitation program,” he added.

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Meanwhile Mr Aidoo has promised to remunerate farmers who cut down their cocoa trees.

COCOBOD “will pay both farm owners and farmers until the new trees start to bear fruits.”

He further said farmers will be given improved seedlings for free in order to achieve production target.

“After cutting down the affected trees, COCOBOD will provide improved seedlings free of charge in order to achieve our targets” he said.