Over 200 individuals from Obuasi and its surrounding communities have been trained and supported in Piggery and Aquaculture by AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Mine to enable them go into mass production of the two programmes to better their future prospects.
Speaking at the Launch of Piggery and Aquaculture Projects at the Anyinam Lodge in Obuasi, the Community Relations Manager of AGA, Mr. Edmund Oduro Agyei noted, “I am proud to share that AngloGold together with our partners have trained 100 individuals in aquaculture and 100 in Piggery across Obuasi”.
He stated that the company will directly support 10 aquaculture farmers while 9 pig farmers will gain from the Piggery initiative this year.
He disclosed that under the aquaculture intervention the company has supported each of the ten farmers with 2,000 fingerlings, 45 bags of fish feed and other inputs.
The company also supported the 9 pig farmers with a total of 18 Gilts (young female pigs under one year), nine boars (male pigs), 196 bags of gestation feed and other inputs.
“These beneficiary farmers represent the hopeful faces of change, empowerment and opportunity, and we are excited to see how these two initiatives – Aquaculture and Piggery projects – will uplift lives in our communities,” Mr Oduro Agyei added.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr. Godfred Appiah Acheampong, said the programme was a symbol of hope, transformation and a strong affirmation that strategic partnerships can drive meaningful change in our agricultural landscape.
He noted that AGA’s deliberate effort to diversify local economies through agriculture and agribusiness is not only thoughtful, but visionary.
Dr. Ebenezer Gyamerah of the University of Cape Coast’s Department of Animal Science advised the pig farmers not to let the huge support to them from AngloGold go waste and urged them to ensure that they work hard for the Piggery to create generational wealth and businesses for their families.
Mr. Edward Kwasi Akuoko, CEO of Murphy Farms said the major problem facing pig farmers is the issue of feed.
He stated that going forward AGA could put them into co-operatives and support them with feed and collect the money later.
On his part, Mr Joseph Marfo of God is Able Farms, one of the fish farmers who benefited from the 2,000 fingerlings and other inputs donation thanked AGA for the gesture.
He promised to work hard to maximize profit and also use his expertise to train those who wish to become fish farmers.
From Frederick Danso Abeam, Obuasi
