Adum Banso (W/R) June 20, GNA - The Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP) purchased 11.933 metric tonnes of fresh palm fruits at an estimated cost of GH¢11.8 million from 438 smallholder farmers in 2010.

Mr Samuel Avaala, Estate Manager of the Company, announced this at the 9th Annual General Meeting of the Benso, Adum Banso, BOPP Smallholder Association (BABBSA) at Adum Banso at the weekend.

The meeting was on the theme: 93Empowering Smallholder Farmer into a sustainable financial management."

Mr Avaala said the output of smallholder farmers was expected to be higher this year because many of them were using fertilisers for production.

He said palm fruits to be purchased by the BOPP would therefore increase threefold.

Mr Avaala commended the government for assisting to boost oil palm production by subsidising the price of fertilisers to members of the association.

Mr Fiifi Ampong, Secretary of BABBSA, said members of the association were buying fertilisers at high cost before the introduction of the subsidy of fertilisers for the association in May this year.

He expressed the appreciation of the association to the government for assisting the members to increase production at a reduced cost.

Mr Ampong urged the government to make the subsidisation of fertiliser for the association a policy to assist to reduce poverty among smallholder farmers.

He said the association has a 55- acre palm oil farm at Benso, which was established in 2007 and was being managed with proceeds from smallholder investments.

Mr Ampong said the association has acquired another 20 acre plot of land at Benso Subiriso for a similar venture.

Dr (Mrs) Mary Opoku Asiamah, Western Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) who was the Guest of Honour called on farmers to contribute towards the realisation of the Better Ghana Agenda.

She advised farmers to manage their farms on business lines by keeping records to prevent financial losses and ensure transparency and accountability.

They should also repay all loans granted them by the association and the government to enable them obtain more credit facilities.

Dr Asiamah said MOFA would help members of the association to improve their financial position and production through extension services.