The Asokwa Municipal Assembly within the greater Kumasi, has procured five thousand (5,000) new hybrid coconut seedlings for free distribution to thousands of farmers, under the Planting for Export and Rural Development program(PERDP), rolled out to support farmers in the Municipality.

Chief Akwannuasah Gyimah,the Asokwa Municipal Chief Executive (MCE),after a short presentation ceremony,said the free distribution of coconut seedlings was part of efforts towards helping to achieve Akufo-Addo led government’s industrialization agenda policy.

Hon.Gyimah admonished farmers to always heed the advice of the Agric officers and take the education they give them seriously.

He lauded the PERD program and said it will provide raw materials for industries under government’s One District One Factory program(1D1F)

The Asokwa MCE also advised beneficiary farmers not to sell the seedlings but used it for its intended purpose.

Chief Akwannuasah Gyimah planting one of the seedlings

Chief Akwannuasah Gyimah pledged the readiness of the Assembly to collaborate with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) directorate to monitor the farmers against diversion of the seedlings.

The MCE said it would also help build internal systems for local small and medium enterprises (SMEs), create systematic networks and actively promote export in the Municipality to play leading role in leveraging Ghanaian market potential for made-in Ghana products, thus contributing to achieving the national target for economic growth.

Chief Akwannuasah Gyimah and some officials of the Assembly in a group picture with a section of the farmers

On his part,the Asokwa Municipal Director of Agriculture,Mr.Ernest Kwame Kusi urged the beneficiaries not to use outmoded methods in planting the seedlings, adding that, the new hybrid coconut seedlings take only two years to bear fruits and was highly competitive in marketing them.

The Agric Director cautioned the farmers not to apply unapproved chemicals that can cause the seedlings to die prematurely, adding that, the Assembly has spent huge sums of money to procure them and they must take good care of the seedlings.

The Asokwa Municipal Director of Agric was full of praised to the MCE for personally contributing to the procurement of termites and insecticides for free distribution to beneficiaries to ensure protection and smooth growth of the seedlings: Source: tntnewspapergh.com