The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly, Alhaji Umar Bodinga, has distributed over 39,000 Coconut and 21,000 Oil Palm seedlings to more than 100 farmers free of charge at Akyem Kukurantumi in the Abuakwa North Municipality of the Eastern Region.
This initiative aims to support farmers, boost local agriculture, and provide raw materials for local industries.
This effort aligns with the government’s agricultural development programs, including the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) program.
Speaking to a cross-section of the media, Municipal Chief Executive Hon. Alhaji Umar Bodinga announced that, the current distribution of oil palm seedlings brings the total number of seedlings distributed so far this year to over 43,000, adding that, the municipal Assembly plans to distribute an additional 70,000 seedlings, indicating a significant investment in the agricultural sector, in the community.
According to the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), the distribution of coconut and oil palm seedlings forms part of the government’s efforts to diversify Ghana’s agricultural exports beyond cocoa.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) cautioned that the initiative will be monitored to ensure that farmers comply with the program’s requirements.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) highlighted the economic potential of agriculture and encouraged the youth to view it as a profitable venture, rather than just a traditional or subsistence activity, adding that, this approach can help revitalize agriculture, increase food production, and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
The Abuakwa North Municipal Director of Agriculture, Nartey Anthony, explained that their department conducted research and identified oil palm and coconut as highly suitable crops for the local climate and soil conditions in the catchment area.
He added that they provided farmers with the necessary knowledge and training on how to properly plant and care for the seedlings to ensure better productivity.
Some of the beneficiary farmers expressed their gratitude to the government for the intervention and technical assistance and urged others to join the programme
