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AGRICULTURE

Akyemansa Assembly ventures into oil palm plantation to boost revenue

The Akyemansa District Assembly has ventured into Palm plantation as a major step to ensure regular income into its coffers to be able to respond more positively to the needs of its people.

Date Created : 6/12/2023 : Story Author : Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

The measure, the District Chief Executive, Mr. Paul Asamoah noted is to move away from the Assembly’s over reliance on taxes, rates and tolls as the internal revenue strategy for the district.

Explaining further, he said being an agrarian society, the Assembly has decided to take advantyage of one of the cash crops with readily available market, and thus acquired 70 acres of land through the kind benevolence of Bontoruase, and Akim Ayirebi Traditional Areas for oil palm plantation which is one of the major crops aside cocoa that the district is known for.

And so in 2018/2019, 35 acres of the land was cultivated and things have been well since that time as it is being managened by the Agriculture Department of the Assembly.

He asserts that few weeks ago, they harvested 5 tons of oil palm, adding that the farm is in its early stage and production would increase as time goes on.

“I’m sure if we plant the entire 70 acres andeven go beyond that, it starts bearing fruits, the Assembly would get constant source of income” the DCE affirmed.

He said they are going all out to ensure the success of the plantation, as such are deploying modern technology through the collaboration of relevant agencies like the Oild Palm Develpoment Corporation who are giving them technical training.

He is confident with this initiative, subsequent chief executives would have reliable income to run the Assembly and be more responsive to the needs of the people. “I came to meet a terrible situation at the Assembly with high debts.

Touching on plans for the remaing 35 acres, he said going into large scale plantation is capital intensive, hence though they are committed to covering the entire 70 acres, the Assembly is taking its time to ensure it has what it takes to manage it properly.

As such they would rather take it gradually than rush.