As fake cocoa chemicals circulation in Meme: Farmers bearing brunt of persistent blackpot disease.

Due to poor cocoa yields because of the blackpot disease, many farmers, who spoke to this reporter, wonder how they are going to pay debts they have incurred ‘njangi’ houses, credit unions and even send their children to school this academic year.

Meanwhile, the Meme Divisional Delegate of Agriculture and Rural Development, Asong Daniel, said another factor that can be blamed for the blackpot disease is the persistent rainfall and the inability for farmers to follow up the routine pattern in preparing their farms. 

One of such procedures he cited is respecting the time to clear, prone, and spraying the right Fungicide which will combat the blackpot. 

Going by Asong Daniel, most of the farmers ignored the services of his office for advice and orientation ahead of the farming season and rather preferred cheap chemicals coming from Nigeria and Ghana, which might have also been the cause of the persistent blackpot disease.

While sympathising with the farmers for the great loss this season, Asong urged them to make good use of his office and follow up updates on homologated chemicals in the markets and farming techniques to avoid such calamity in the future.

“I will be heading to the markets and subsequently hall a meeting with all the dealers of Chemicals in Meme to address the issue and make sure it's address…,” the delegate stated.

Enter SOWEFCU president 

The President of the South West Farmers Cooperative Union, SOWEFCU, Esapa Patrick Enyong, in a telephone conversation with this reporter, also blamed the blackpot disease on severe rainfall and poverty on the part of farmers to purchase the right pesticides and Fungicide needed to carter for their farms. 

He, however, insisted that there's need for constant training via different cooperatives to enable them produce better yields. 

While affirming that Meme produces the highest quantity of cocoa, Esapa further noted that Manyu Division has the highest quality of cocoa beans in the market.

Esapa advised farmers to join Cooperative Unions which will enable them get right information about their farms and knowledge to improve on their yields. 

Informed about the situation, the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Meme, Ntou'ou Ndong Chamberlin, convened a crisis meeting with his close collaborators of the delegates of trade, agriculture to stamp out the fake cocoa chemicals in circulation in Meme. 

The SDO also notified hierarchy immediately who have task the administrative authority to dig deep into the situation to save Meme Division, the economic hub of the South West region.

“I am taking this matter so personally because I know my population are mostly farmers and I can't afford to see them suffer this season…,” the SDO stated. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3560 of Wednesday September 10, 2025