The Presbyterian Church of Ghana – Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery, as part of measures to help alleviate poverty amongst its members through an economic empowerment programme led by the Presbytery Chairperson, Rev. Dr. Seth Kissi, has distributed 40000 oil palm seedlings to its members in about 15 districts of the church who are into agriculture.
This is exceeding the initial target of 30000 seedlings every year.
This year, 530 congregants who are farmers in about 15 districts of the church that is Abomosu, Kade, Akyem Akropong, Anum Asamankese, Asuom, Osenase, New Abirem, Ofosu, Anyinam, Kyebi and Kukurantumi benefited from the distribution of the 40,000 oil palm seedlings for free.
Similarly, 40000 oil palm seedlings were distributed to 535 church members last year as first badge of beneficiaries of the three-year project, therefore making a total of 80000 oil palm seedlings within two years.
This forms part of the broader vision of the Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana to better their lives, hence the introduction of a three-year project targeted to nurse and supply free 30000 oil palm seedlings every year which begun in 2022 making a total of 90000 to its members within the three years.
Prior to the commencement of the oil palm seedlings project, the Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery had already distributed about 5600 coconut seedlings to congregations who had lands for the cultivation of coconut plantation in 2021.
Speaking in an interview, the Chairperson of the Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery, Rev. Dr. Seth Kissi said “one of the visions of the Presbytery is to help its members work and earn income so that they also live better lives whiles on earth through this economic empowerment program”.
“We noticed that there are no big companies in the Presbytery but there are a lots of land readily available for farms so we decided to support the members who are into farming with free oil palm and coconut seedlings every year to empower them and to eradicate extreme poverty in the church going forward”, he said.
” We are targeting oil palm farming in these areas because of its economical value which will enable the farmers to generate a lot of income for themselves, their families and the church”, he added.
According to him, the vision of the Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery is to complement government in the distribution of seedlings to farmers to improve agricultural production while encouraging the youth into farming.
Rev. Dr. Seth Kissi encouraged the beneficiaries to adopt proper farming methods to nurture the seedlings in order to achieve the full benefit of its intended purpose.
Chief of Akyem Asuom Lauds the initiative
The Chief of Akyem Asuom in the Kwaebibrim Municipality of the Eastern Region of Ghana, Osabarima Ofosu-Hene Apenteng II also lauded the leadership of Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery for initiating a project to improve the living conditions of the farmers.
The Chief having benefited from the project last year stated that he anticipates to reap the full benefits of his oil palm farms and entreated the church members to embrace this initiative.
“The Chiefs in Akyem Abuakwa State, His Royal Majesty, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin believe that the project is a very good one and I am a beneficiary myself, we are hopeless in Asuom if not because of farming so anything which aims at supporting farmers in this area is something we cherish and value a lot.”
“It is my wish that the Presbyterian Church is able to extend this initiative to other part of the country and this will help improve the lives of farmers especially in the rural communities”, Osabarima Ofosu-Hene Apenteng II explained.
The Head of a three-member Committee in charge of the nursing of the seedlings and also the immediate-past Director of Plant Genetic Resources Institute at Bonsu in the Eastern Region, Dr. Lawrence Misa Aboagye educated the beneficiaries on appropriate farming practices to adopt in their farms after transplanting the seedlings.
Additionally, he advised all prospective farmers to obtain their materials from oil palm research institutes to get quality seeds and nurture their own seedlings.
The beneficiaries thanked the church for the gesture.
Source: Michael Akrofi/Peace News
| : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of . accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Featured Video