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In a bid to bolster agricultural productivity and rural development, Mr. Emmanuel Kofi Agyemang, the District Chief Executive of Dormaa East in the Bono Region, has distributed over 20,000 hybrid coconut seedlings to farmers in Nsesresu under the government’s Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) initiative.
The initiative, aimed at enhancing the socio-economic livelihoods of farmers, saw the assembly’s support in nurturing 12,000 coconut seedlings at the Nsesresu nursing site, with an additional 8,000 seedlings at the Merefrewuo nursery site within the district.
During a brief ceremony to present the seedlings, Mr. Agyemang encouraged the recipient farmers to refrain from selling the seedlings and instead focus on planting them. He emphasized the significant investment the government has made in the PERD program and urged farmers to maximize the value of the coconut seedlings.
Highlighting the success of similar initiatives in the past, Mr. Agyemang pointed out that the assembly had distributed over one million cashew seedlings to farmers in the area between 2018 and 2021. He underscored the government’s commitment to poverty alleviation and economic empowerment through programs like PERD.
The Dormaa East District Director of Agriculture, Mr. Gordon Tuah, provided guidance to farmers on proper planting techniques and encouraged them to utilize the services of Extension Officers to enhance their farming practices.
Additionally, Barimah Effiriti Sampon-Siaw, the Mawarehene of the Dormaa Traditional Area, urged farmers to explore avenues for value addition to their produce, rather than solely focusing on raw material production. He encouraged unemployed individuals to seize the opportunities presented by the PERD program to engage in cashew and coconut production for improved livelihoods.
Mr. Agyemang also provided updates on the construction of a dam and canopy walkway in the Nsesresu community, indicating that progress was underway, with completion expected within two weeks. He assured the community of the contractor’s commitment to timely delivery of the project, which would further contribute to local development and economic growth.
