The Ahafo Ano South-West District Assembly in the Ashanti Region is taking strategic measures to reclaim farmlands degraded through illegal mining activities in the area.
To this end, the Assembly within the year distributed a total of 54,732 oil palm and 6,500 coconut seedlings to over 500 farmers, to plant as part of efforts reclaim the degraded land.
Mr Abubakar Sedik, the District Chief Executive (DCE), made this known at the 41st farmers’ day celebration held at Enitemfe, near Mankranso, in the district.
He said the seedlings were provided by the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the reclamation of the lands degraded through illegal mining activities in the area. He noted that agriculture remained a vital business venture and the backbone of the district.
Mr Sedik announced the registration of 1,500 youth under the Feed Ghana Programme, labelled as “Nkoko Nketenkete” project, which would be launched soon in the district, to provide thousands of poultry jobs in the district.
He emphasised that day old chicks, feed, modern housing, training and guaranteed markets would be made available to ensure the success of the program to yield its corresponding benefits to the farmers and all citizens.
In all, 26 categorical farmers, including the first and second runners up received fridges, television sets, Wellington boots, bicycles, spraying machines, cutlasses, certificates among others, as their prizes.
Mr. Iddrisu Abass, a 41-year-old farmer at “Hwan Naonneowuoka” village was adjudged the overall best farmer and took home a tricycle (Aboboyaa), two pairs of Wellington boots, two knapsack sprayers, three bottles of insecticides, two bags of fertilizer, animal feed and certificate among others.
He owns four acres of oil palm, three acres of cocoa, three acres of maize, two acres of cassava, three acres of plantain, three acres of vegetables among other farms, 18 cattle, 12 goats, 40 local birds, among others.
Mr Francis Arkorful-Quaye, the District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) stressed the need for research institutions to develop improved planting materials that could resist pests and diseases, secure early maturity, and also withstand drought and make them available to the farmers.
He mentioned increased productivity as the target of his office and urged the farmers to observe and practice the teachings of his officers.
GNA
