Cocoa research institute donates to Savannah shea nursery

Tamale, April 14, GNA- The Cocoa Research Institute (CRI) of Ghana has donated nursery equipment valued over GH¢ 6,000.00 to Savannah Plantations, a private nursery engaged in shea tree cultivation in Daboya in the West Gonja District of the Northern region.

The items include; wheelbarrows, shovels, spades, watering cans and 30,000 pieces of poly bags for nursery seeds.

Mr Frank Amoah, Executive Director of the CRI, who presented the items to Mr Moses Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister, said the CRI had over the past 36 years being working to reduce the gestation period of the shea-tree and improve upon its yield.

He said through its various research activities at its sub-station in Bole, the institute had now been able to reduce the gestation period of the shea tree to between 10 to 12 years.

Mr Amoah commended Savannah plantations for its pioneering role in the nursery industry and urged other organisations and individuals to emulate the example and take to shea tree cultivation.

He said the shea industry was one of hope for the people of Northern Ghana since it could help alleviate poverty in the area.

Mr Mabengba commended the CRI for its professional assistance to an individual and urged the district assemblies to also establish plantations that could in future bring in more revenue for development.

He asked district chief executives to enforce bye-laws on the felling and burning of economic trees for charcoal and also tasked them to control the activities of Fulani-herdsmen who were destroying the environment.

Mr Issah Sulemana, Chief Executive Officer of Savannah plantations, thanked CRI for its assistance and pledged to use the equipment to increase yields on his plantations which would serve as an incentive to other farmers in the shea industry

GNA