Nkawie Forestry Commission Steps Up Afforestation

The Nkawie Forestry Commission in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region has imported timber seeds from India to augment its afforestation project initiated in 2012 towards forest conservation.

Nana Poku Bosompem, Nkawie District Forestry Manager, said the consignment would cater for 76 hectares of plantation.

According to the Forestry Manager, last year 120 hectares was planted, thus creating jobs for farmers, while 128,000 hectares would be executed this year.

Nana Bosompem indicated that the project had provided permanent jobs for about 150 youth, who have been given permanent jobs.

The 2015 National Best District Forestry Manager said, 16,000 indigenous seedlings are going to be planted to sustain the cocoa industry.

Nana Bosompem further disclosed that each farmer would be given 20 species to plant, to give them at least two million cocoa trees on a pilot basis.

He said, under the programme, cocoa farmers are expected to plant 200,000 trees to sustain the industry in the future. “The whole idea is to green the country,” he said.

From Sebastian R. Freiku, Kumasi