KEEA presents farmers with the plantation program for export and rural development

Company News from Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Source: Graphic.com.gh

2019-06-05

The Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipal Assembly (KEEA) distributed 20,000 coconut plants to farmers in the municipality as part of the Government Planter for Export and Rural Development (PERD) program.

Nana Appiah Korang, Executive Director of KEEA, introduced the seedlings to farmers who ran for the program in Elmina yesterday, adding that the program aimed to establish a raw material base for local industries.

He said that the badembly would support agriculture because it had many benefits for the population.

He urged farmers to be patient with the government because "what we started is an ongoing process that will benefit the majority of our people."

He persuaded the traditional authorities to give more land to farmers for the program, saying "it is a national program that will benefit everyone, regardless of political affiliation".

Food and agriculture

Ms. Victoria Dansoa Abankwa, KEEA's city director of food and agriculture, said the PERD was aimed at creating alternative livelihoods for the people.

She said that after realizing that farmers in the region were growing cash crops for export, the government decided to launch the program, adding, "There is a potential for exporting coconut and its by-products. "

Ms. Abankwa called on the country's metropolitan, municipal and district bademblies, particularly those in the central region, to subscribe to the program because they could earn an income.

Appreciation

Mr Charles Ampong, KEEA's best municipal farmer for 2018, received the products on behalf of the farmers and thanked the badembly for his support.

He urged fellow farmers to follow the best agronomic practices for growing seedlings.

"I am convinced that if we take care of seedlings from here to fruiting, we will be able to attract more investors into our community," he said.

Context

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, launched the PERD program in Dunkwa-on-Offin in the central region on April 23 this year.

This is the "Cultures for Food and Employment" module, which aims to create more jobs, facilitate foreign exchange earnings and accelerate development at the district level.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) implements the PERD, in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

It was designed to develop selected tree crops, namely cashew, coffee, oil palm, coconut, mango and rubber, for export. To begin with, 32,591 hectares of cultivated trees are expected to be planted in 191 districts.