A year ago
An innovative fertilizer has been introduced by Demeter Ghana Limited to increase the nation's cocoa production.
According to tests by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), the fertilizer known as polysulfate (Asaase Hene), which contains many nutrients, increases cocoa yields by over 70%.
The fertilizer has a sulfate content of 48% (SO3), a potash sulfate content of 14% (K2O), a magnesium sulfate content of 6%, and a calcium sulfate content of 17% (CaO).
Asaase Hene has received approval from several organizations, including ECOCERT, for use in organic farming worldwide.
With 0.034 kilograms of CO2e per kilogram, or less than 3% of urea, it has the lowest carbon footprint when compared to a wide range of comparable fertilizers.
Event
The product is suited for all types of soils, is fully natural, has a longer nutrient release rate, and has a low salinity (amount of salt) index, making it perfect for cocoa production, according to Benjamin Adevu, Head of Agronomy at Demeter Ghana, who spoke at the unveiling in Kumasi.
He emphasized that polysulfate fertilizer, also known as asaase hene, "provides both macro and micronutrients needed for good cocoa yields."
It may take up to fifty days for nutrients to be released, according to Mr. Adevu, making it ideal for cocoa trees to generate bigger harvests.
Samuel Ankamah, the event's chair and deputy director in charge of agronomy at the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), urged farmers to adopt the product to increase their harvests. and that the Ghana Cocoa Board has evaluated, tested, and approved it.
He praised Demeter Ghana for introducing the fertilizer, which provided significant advantages to cocoa growers.
"CRIG trials showed increased cocoa yields using polysulfate (Asaase Hene) versus NPK fertilizers during the trials," said Dr. A. Arthur, a senior research scientist at CRIG.
"Our test results have shown that polysulfate (Asaase Hene) organic fertilizer is effective for increased and healthy cocoa yields," the speaker emphasized.
According to William Hunt, the country manager for Demeter Ghana, the fertilizer would help farmers increase their output and profits while simultaneously taking care of the environment.
Testimony
During the event, a few farmers who had used the product spoke about the positive effects it had had on their operations.
"I used to harvest 10 bags of cocoa per acre of land," Bioh Daniel Bossman, general manager of Ewurade Naye Bioh Farm Limited, said. "But since I started using polysulfate fertilizers, I now harvest 30 bags of cocoa per acre of land."
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