Atwima Mponua Farmers Extols Government On Planting For Export And Rural Development (perd) Initiative

Farmers across the Atwima Mponua District gathered at the forecourt of the Agric Department to get their share of the newly introduced Planting for Export and Rural Development (P.E.R.D.) programme aimed at making farmers earn addition income in foreign exchange and also boost their trade. This initiative was launched a fortnight ago by His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo at Dunkwa in the Central Region.

Addressing over 300 farmers, the District Chief Executive, Honorable William Darko commended his government for taking initiatives that are farmer friendly and has the capacity to alleviate farmers from financial difficulties. Starting chronology from the assumption of power by the NPP government, the DCE mentioned the various goodies his party has initiated to make farmers happy. He mentioned pollination, pruning, planting for food and jobs, planting for food and investment and the increment of the salaries of cocoa mass spraying gangs from Gh ¢80 cedis to Gh ¢200 cedis. He added the Free Senior High School (FSHS) has helped farmers a lot, because they don’t go for loans to fund their ward school fees.

He noted that, this PERD project will start yielding positive gains in the next 3-4 years and advised the farmers to take it seriously. “The state has expended millions of Ghana cedis to get farmers across the country these seedlings”, he added. In all, about 15000 seedlings of Palm nut and Coconut were to be distributed to these farmers. “This is your part of the national cake”, he added. He promised that, the district Agric office will nurse over 40,000 palm and coconut seedlings in the next seasons. Furthermore, Honorable Darko noted that, most roads throughout the district will be tarred to end the precarious post-harvest losses which makes the toils of farmers go in vain.

Mr. Eric Fofie of the Agric department, took time to teach the farmers about the planting methods that can help the farmers to get good yields. He advised them to frequent his office for advice for their own good. He commended the government for the NABCo recruits and 5 permanent extension officer posted to the department. “In all, my department currently have about 40 Agric extension officers scattered across the District.

In attendance were, the District Coordinating Director, Mr. Asante Baffoe, Presiding Member, Honorable Issaka Kombat, Honorable Isaac Kofi Marfo. Others are Nana Oti Boadua, Akwamuhene of Nyinahin, and Nana Agyare Boateng of Tano Odumase, Assembly members, the Press, Farmers and other invited guests.

Compiled By:

Jephthah Kwame Sarfo

(District Information Officer)