Coffee The disease presence has been

• Coffee project has started propagation of seedlings, plants should be available to farmers by 2017 (12-14 month period for growing and hardening of seedlings).

• Coffee seedlings will be given to eligible farmers; farmers need to be willing to establish 0.25 acres or more- a total amount of seedlings enough to establish 150ac should be available by 2017.

• Survey for Coffee Rust Mite was conducted by Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) throughout the agricultural regions with an exception of North and Northeast. The disease presence has been confirmed in all regions and a full report along with a suggested plan of action is expected from PPQ.

• Cocoa- tools and equipment are available to farmers wishing to prune or rehabilitate abandoned fields. The coordinator suggested that names of farmers be forwarded to him through the team leaders for verification and logistical arrangements to be made directly. 

• DOA is looking to have the propagation Unit at Londonderry ready for cocoa cutting and grafting by June 2016; plants should be available for the public 24months thereafter. 

• Woodfordhill and Portsmouth Agriculture Stations have cocoa seedlings available presently (propagated from seeds). It was suggested that farmers wishing to go into cocoa should be advised to wait on plants from cuttings. Adamant farmers wishing to proceed by seed should be trained in proper pod/ seed selection and the three (3) verities favoured by the DOA.