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AGRICULTURE

Sunyani West distributes 140,000 cashew seedlings to farmers

The Sunyani West District Assembly in the Bono Region have distributed 140,000 Cashew Seedlings to various farmers groups and individuals as part of government initiated flagship programmes in the Agriculture Sector to promote the Cultivation of Cash Crops for Export in order to boost the rural economy.

Date Created : 6/30/2019 8:20:35 AM : Story Author : Mary Gornah/Ghanadistricts.com

Mr. Martin Obeng, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Sunyani West in his address at the distribution ceremony in Odumasi said Ghana need to modernize her Agriculture by introducing modern technology and planting materials to reduce the drudgery of farmers and increase acreages and yield of crops as well as add value to the product.

He recalled that last year the Assembly distributed 20,000 Cashew seedlings to farmers in a similar programme.

The DCE noted that the ‘Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD)’ initiative was part of government’s Flagship programmes which was launched by the President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo on the 16th April, 2019 at Dunkwa-Offin in the Upper Denkyira East District in the Central Region. The PERD programme seeks to promote and strengthen the Agriculture sector.

The DCE disclosed that the cashew seedlings distributed cost the Assembly GH?330,000.00 and added that the Assembly had purchased 269kgs of Polyclonal seeds comprised of 40,000 Polyclonal Cashew seeds from the Crops Services Division of the MOFA and these were given out to Nursery operators to nurse more.

Mr. Martin Obeng appealed to the farmers who were beneficiaries of these seedlings to ensure that they were taken care to grow well. He also appealed to the public to take advantage of the programme to register and benefit for the seedlings since the Agric Extension officers would be located in all parts of the district.

The District Director of Agriculture Mr. Sonkpe Gilbert, said the distribution of cashew under the PERD initiative was an advantage that Farmers should grape and support. The target for the district was 140,000 seedlings of cashew and Oil Palm by the end of 2019 and would be planted and supervised by the District Agric Extension Officers.

He added that the cashew seedlings distributed to farmers would be monitored and supervised by the District Agric Extension officers to ensure that they are planted according to the Agricultural practices. He also advised

Farmers to venture into tree crop planting which would also fetch them some income and also ensure they create fire belt in their farms in order to avoid bush burning.