Tongo (UE/R), Feb. 17, GNA - The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Telensi-Nabdam District, Mr Tibel Bisnaba Sabatian, on Wednesday commended the Yamariga Tree Planting Association (YTPA) near Tongo, a suburb of Bolgatanga for embarking on tree planting exercises in the district for the past three years and pledged the assembly's unflinching support for their operation.

He pointed out that desertification, which was so prevalent in the region could be avoided when such operations were executed. The DCE announced that plans were underway to disburse some amount of money to women groups in the various districts in the region to go into farming and assured YTPA, which is a women group that they would be, the first beneficiaries.

So far the association had planted about 200 trees in the district. Some of the areas planted include the surroundings of the District Assembly, the Health Post, DCE house, the Telensi- Nabdam Township among others.

The Leader of the YTPA, Mrs Mary Kungazuri, announced that so far the association had in place 3,000 seedlings, which it was currently nursing.

Mrs Kungazuri explained that some of the problems confronting the association were that it had not been able to fence the seedlings and needed a donkey to cart black soil for the nursing of the seedlings. She appealed to the District Assembly and other NGOs to come to their aid to enable the association discharge its duties effectively and efficiently.

Responding, the DCE promised that his outfit would help them to fence the seedling and provide them with donkey and cart. In another development, the DCE announced that the Assembly had made policy that all contractors, who had been awarded contract in the area would be made to plant trees around them to serve as wind break and shades. 17 Feb. 06