Nkoranza South Farmers Urged to Protect Coconut Farms as Dry Season Sets In
Mrs Gifty Fremah Appiah, the Nkoranza South Municipal Director of Agriculture, has advised farmers benefiting from the government’s coconut seedling distribution programme to create fire belts and protect their farms as the dry season intensifies.
The free coconut seedling distribution was initiated by President John Mahama under the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA) to boost national coconut production, promote agribusiness, and enhance export opportunities. The programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture in partnership with the Coconut Federation of Ghana (CocoFeG), with funding from the Ghana Exim Bank.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Nkoranza in the Bono East Region, Mrs Appiah cautioned farmers against the indiscriminate use of fire, noting that bushfires could easily destroy young coconut plantations during the dry season.
She highlighted the strong economic potential of coconut, citing its growing local and international market demand, and urged farmers to take farm maintenance seriously. She encouraged them to practise mulching and composting to improve soil fertility and ensure healthy growth of the seedlings.
Mrs Appiah commended President Mahama for the implementation of the PIAA, saying the initiative had stimulated significant interest in coconut cultivation in the municipality. She added that the programme had also created employment opportunities, particularly for young people, with about 60 per cent of beneficiaries being under 40 years.
In a related interview, Mr Joseph Edu-Parko, an Agricultural Extension Agent in the municipality, advised farmers to weed their farms regularly to reduce the risk of fire outbreaks.
He explained that bushy farms were highly susceptible to fire and could lead to the destruction of the coconut seedlings. Mr Edu-Parko therefore urged farmers to make regular visits to their farms and properly nurture the young plants to ensure the success of the initiative.
GNA
