Winneba (C/R), June 16, GNA - Nana Kwame Ayensu, Chief Fisherman at Winneba, has called on communities along the coast to intensify the planting of coconut trees to supplement the earnings they derive from fishing. Speaking at a forum organised by fishermen and fishmongers along the costal areas of Winneba at the weekend, the Chief Fisherman said in addition to their direct economic benefits, coconut trees also had medicinal qualities, especially for heart-related diseases, and served as resting spots along the beaches.

"The benefits of coconut trees to humanity are numerous," Nana Ayensu said, citing the use of the dry nuts for the production of vegetable cooking oil which could help reduce the nation's huge import bills on cooking oil, as well as the use of their branches for fuel-wood among communities along the coast.

He appealed to the Government and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to continue to subsidise farm inputs to enable farmers to produce sufficient food to feed the nation's growing population. The Chief Fisherman also praised the government for introducing the Block Farm system and urged MOFA to introduce more incentives that would attract the youth to go into agriculture.