In a significant step towards enhancing agricultural productivity, the Abuakwa North Municipal Assembly in the Eastern Region of Ghana, led by Honourable Dr. Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga, distributed oil palm seedlings to over ninety-five farmers on October 7th, 2024. The distribution ceremony took place at the forecourt of the Assembly's premises in Akyem Kukurantumi.

During the event, ten thousand pieces of a new variety of oil palm seedlings, provided by the Tree Crops Development Authority, were handed over to local farmers. This initiative is part of a larger effort that has already seen the distribution of over two hundred and fifty-four thousand oil palm seedlings to farmers in the municipality.

Speaking at the event, Honourable Dr. Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga highlighted the importance of the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) policy, a government flagship program that directs all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to provide farmers with seedlings of various cash crops, including cashew, mango, shea, oil palm, and coconut, to promote commercial agriculture. According to research conducted by the Department of Agriculture, oil palm and coconut were identified as ideal crops for the Municipality, leading to their selection for this initiative.



The Municipal Chief Executive explained that the new variety of oil palm seedlings, once matured, will serve as a vital raw material for the local palm oil extraction factories. This is expected to reduce the need for these factories to source palm nuts from distant regions, such as the Ashanti Region, thereby boosting the local economy.



In addition to the oil palm seedlings, the Assembly has also distributed almost forty-two thousand coconut seedlings, with plans to receive an additional ten thousand seedlings in the coming weeks. This effort aligns with the municipality's vision to establish palm and coconut oil factories, enhancing commercial production and creating sustainable employment opportunities in the area.

Honourable Dr. Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga urged the beneficiaries to rally behind the government as he distributed the free seedlings, encouraging them to vote massively for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming general elections on December 7th. He emphasized that their support would contribute to the continuous socio-economic development of the country.

He also emphasized the need for beneficiaries to plant the seedlings as provided, noting that monitoring officers will be deployed to ensure compliance. He warned that farmers who fail to plant the seedlings will face appropriate consequences.

Additionally, Dr. Alhaji Umar Babs Bodinga appealed to traditional authorities to allocate more arable land to the Assembly to encourage youth participation in agriculture, aiming to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.

Rev. Ebenezer Darko, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to the Municipal Assembly and the Central Government for their continued support for agriculture. He assured that the free seedlings provided would be planted to achieve the purpose for which they were distributed.

The event was attended by key figures, including Hon. William Adu Obiri, Presiding Member of the Assembly, several Assembly Members, staff from the Municipal Assembly, Mr. David Oloso, Acting Director of the Agriculture Department, as well as members of the press.

Source: Nana Kwasi Asare