The outgoing Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben South in the Eastern Region, Isaac Appaw Gyasi has urged Ghanaians to make agriculture a priority to help in nation building.
According to him, the nation would have a prosperous future should the youth get themselves involved in agricultural activities.
Mr. Appaw Gyasi made this remark during the Assembly’s donation of about one hundred and fifty thousand seedlings of oil palm to some famers in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital.
The donation forms part of the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) programme which was introduced by President Akufo-Addo’s government in 2018.
Speaking during the donation, he said the favourable weather conditions of the country are conducive for farming, thus admonished Ghanaian youth to venture into farming to help the country develop rapidly.
“We can all see that the beneficiaries are happy. So I urge them to go and plants the seedlings so that it can be of benefit to Ghana. As I normally say, if we give all our attention to farming, the country will develop”
“Some countries such as Indonesia and others came for palm fruits from Ghana of which they are now known globally in farming. So this means if we prioritize the sector as President Akufo-Addo is aiming for, then Ghana will developed”, said Isaac Appaw Gyasi.
Again, he asked the beneficiaries to maintain the seedlings in good conditions and ensure that they adhere to the planting process as instructed by the agricultural director to enhance productivity.
The Municipal Agriculture Director, Kofi Tweneboah charged the farmers to make sure they plant the seedlings as intended for their own benefit and the country as whole.
He then warned that farmers who will leave the seedlings to rot nor make money out of it shall face punishment and fine by the Assembly.
Meanwhile, he noted that the Assembly in collaboration with the agriculture department will embark on a periodical visits to various farms of the beneficiaries for directions to enable to the needful.
Madam Janet Mensah on behalf of her colleague farmers thanked the government and the MCE for the support and promised to make good opportunity of the benefits.
She also appealed to President Akuffo-Addo to come to their assistant financially to help the course of agriculture in the country since farming has become expensive.
