Municipal Chief Executive for Assin Fosu Nicholas Fiifi Baako has presented some 15,000 palm seedlings to farmers in his municipality.
This forms part of the government’s Planting for Exports and Rural Development (PERD) program which is under the decentralized National Tree Crop Programme aimed at promoting rural economic growth and improving household incomes of rural farmers through the provision of certified improved seedlings, extension services, business support, and regulatory mechanisms.
“The government is committed to creating a legacy towards the realization of the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda and as such the government through a joint effort of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Ministry of Agriculture rolled out the PERD programme,” Municipal Chief Executive for the area, Fiifi Baako said.
Speaking to Citi News after presenting the seedlings to the farmers he further encouraged farmers to take advantage of the programme to benefit themselves and improve the economy of rural folks.
He again indicated that the assembly will from next year increase the nursing of the seedlings from 15,000 to 100,000 to enable them reach out to more farmers.
“From next year we will increase our production from 15,000 to 100,000 to enable us reach out to more farmers,” he said.
Some of the products distributed include cashew, coffee, cotton, coconut, citrus, oil palm, mango, and rubber.
“The programme seeks to create a sustainable raw material base to support the industrialization drive through the One District One Factory initiative as well as the 5-year PERD programme,” the MCE explained.
