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President John Dramni Mahama announced government acquisition of lands to involve the youth in large scale cocoa farming.

He made this known during his 3rd State of the Nation Address, Thursday at the Parliament House after acknowledging a hard working young cocoa former, Samuel Torbi.

“Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of the second anniversary of my administration last month, I spent the day in the cocoa growing community of Assin Senchem in the Central Region. I was on the farm of a young cocoa farmer, Samuel Torbi, and his enthusiastic young friends who have all taken to cocoa farming.

“…I felt encouraged that there is an emerging young generation of cocoa farmers who will take over from the older generation. I invited Mr. Torbi and his friends to be my guest at this State of the Nation event and I presume he should be in the gallery somewhere” he said

“Mr. Speaker, I have requested CocoBod to unveil a programme to acquire land to engage more young people in cocoa farming” the President noted

According to the president Mahama, cocoa industry has over the years played a pivotal role in Ghana’s economy.

He assured that 2014/2015 cocoa season, the Ghana Cocoa Board will continue the free fertilizer application (Hi-tech) programme for cocoa farms.

“The Board is also distributing a total of fifty million (50,000,000) improved cocoa seedlings free of charge to farmers. Ahead of that, it has recruited four thousand (4,000) people in 87 cocoa growing communities who have planted and are nursing the seedlings” he said