The government of Ghana through the Department of Agriculture in the Asutifi North district has distributed a total of 111,000 tree seedlings to farmers in the district.
Mr Paul Boakye, the District Director of the Department, gave the report and said it is part of the mission of the department to promote agriculture development by providing framework, public investment, and support services needed for domestic and export-oriented business enterprises.
The seedlings included 25,000 economic trees and 86,000 oil palm. The director noted that the department had earlier distributed 30,000 oil palm, 63,000 cashew, 3,000 coconut and 20,000 economic trees summing up to 116,000 seedlings in last year. In 2020 alone, we distributed 40,000 oil palm, 3,000 coconut and 50,000 cashew seedlings making 93,000.
Training
Mr Boakye stated that the seedlings were shared to farmers in Gambia, Ntotroso, Kramokrom, Goamu Camp, Koforidua, Kenyasi, Tutuka, Obengkrom, Amomaso, Bogyampa, Donkorkrom and other distribution centers across the district. The seedlings were nursed at the various centers which were nearer to the farms, for easy access and proper transportation.
The District Extension Officer, Anthony Omari-Mensah, said the department taught the farmers planting, spacing, application of pesticides among other good agronomic practices, to ensure good yield of the crops.
“Extension Officers in the Asutifi North district visited the various farms to monitor the farmers on adherence to expert advice saying that our farmers have cooperated with us,” disclosed Mr Omari-Mensah.
