Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana

AGRICULTURE

PRESTEA: Over 73,000 oil palm seedlings distributed to farmers

As part of government’s flagship programme of Planting for Export and Rural Development, the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the Mineral Development Fund (MDF) and the Member of Parliament for Prestea Huni-Valley, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi presented 73,170 oil palm seedlings to 280 farmers in the municipality.

Date Created : 6/21/2019 3:10:39 AM : Story Author : Matilda Ansah/Ghanadistricts.com

Depending on the acreage of land, each farmer receive between 60-600 seedlings.

Handing over the seedlings, the research officer of the mineral development fund Mr. Acheampong Tutu said, the Minerals Development Fund is 20% of royalties paid by mining companies to the government.

He said a Mining Development Scheme has been set aside under the Mineral Development Fund to ensure that people in mining communities engage in alternative livelihood instead of engaging in Galamsey.

It was due to this that the MDF have partnered with the PHMA to distribute seedlings to farmers, he added.

The Municipal Chief Executive of the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal Assembly, Mozart K. Owuh said the oil palm seedlings were being distributed to farmers to help feed the oil palm processing factory (under the one district one factory) which will refine oil palm and palm kennel as well as produce fuel known as Charcoal Bars.

He added that it was the aim of the President to move Ghana beyond aid and that could only be achieved if we engage in industrialization and for industrialization to go on we need raw materials hence the need to distribute these raw materials to farmers.

He thanked the Member of Parliament for being able to liaise with Richie Plantations Limited to release the seedlings on time.

He also thanked the Mineral Development Fund for approving their request and sponsoring the seedlings.