60,000 cashew seedlings have been distributed to the Jema farmers in Ghana by the Department of Agriculture in the Kintampo South District.
Mrs Afia Asokua Yeboah, the Kintampo South District Director of the Department of Agriculture, announced the distribution and said the move was to promote cash crop farming in the district.
750 farmers, in the Bono East region benefited from the distribution. Cashew farming in the area would help sustain the government’s Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD), and boost the income of farmers.
Mrs Asokua indicated that the exercise was an annual programme to supply farmers with improved cashew seedlings for planting. Each of the 750 farmers received 80 seedlings to cover two acres of farmland.
PERD programme
“I am grateful to Production Safety Net Project, an NGO, for partnering the district assembly through the Department of Agriculture, with funding for the cashew nursery project, at Mansie,” said Mrs Asokua.
The Kintampo South District Co-ordinating Director (DCD), Mr James Asante Baffoe, said the government’s livelihood improvement programmes and Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) were progressing in the area.
Mr Baffoe noted that the PERD programme would enhance the country’s foreign exchange earnings and create jobs. He commended the Department of Agriculture for supporting farmers in Kintampo South District with certified improved seedlings, extension services and best agricultural practices.
“Out of the crops under PERD, namely cashew, coffee, cotton, coconut, citrus, oil palm, mango, rubber and shea, we realised that the vegetation of our area was good for cashew production” Mr Baffoe disclosed.
