A total of 2,500 farmers have been supported with 30,000 oil palm seedlings by the AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mines as part of its Climate Resilience Oil Palm Project (CROPP).
Already, the mining company, has invested GH¢1.8 million into the first phase of the project with the seedlings valued at GH¢105,000.
CROPP is the flagship agricultural development and climate focused intervention of AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi’s 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP).
It was initiated in 2022 in partnership with Solidaridad West Africa, in six districts within the Adansi Traditional Area-Obuasi Municipal, Obuasi East District, Adansi North and South, Adansi Asokwa and Adansi Akrofuom District Assemblies.
The project seeks to improve the livelihoods of the farmers through oil palm production by 2026, while contributing to the country’s deforestation mitigation targets through agro forestry by the same year.
The Senior Manager, Sustainability of the mining company, Mr Emmanuel Baidoo, in a speech read on his behalf said they had partnered with experienced agricultural experts such as the Solidaridad West Africa, Ministry of Food and Agriculture to identify the most appropriate variety of oil palm seedlings that could withstand adversity to provide to the farmers.
According to him, the mining company engaged traditional and local authorities to identify and convert degraded lands into agroforestry block farms and “so far, 50 acres of lands have been reclaimed.”
Mr Baidoo mentioned that the mining company had facilitated the set-up of oil palm nurseries to supply climate resilient seedlings to support farmers adopt climate smart practices, and had established Farm Service Providers to provide farm management services to oil palm farmers toward high yields.
He stressed the company’s commitment to the enhancement of the communities through the 10-year SEDP Project, and support the farmers with the seedlings.
“This demonstrates our commitment to sustainable development and responsible business practices, by encouraging local farmers to adopt improved agricultural methods, we hope to enrich Obuasi’s agriculture sector and promote ecological balance within our host communities,” he underlined.
The Adansi Fomena Benkumhene, Nana Kwanim Barima Ansu II, who represented the Adansihene, Okopatwere Abu Bonsra, praised the mining company for ensuring that farmers have access to better livelihoods.
He thanked the company for taking the farmers through special trainings on best management practices in oil production, and said they would do their best to contribute to the country’s efforts to reclaim degraded lands.
It was initiated in 2022 in partnership with Solidaridad West Africa, in six districts within the Adansi Traditional Area-Obuasi Municipal, Obuasi East District, Adansi North and South, Adansi Asokwa and Adansi Akrofuom District Assemblies.
FROM KINGSLEY E. HOPE, OBUASI