ADRA Ghana assists farmers in Gomoa and Awutu-Effutu-Senya

Awutu Kwei (C/R), May 26, GNA - The Adventist Development And Relief Agency (ADRA) Ghana is supplying 60,500 pieces of cassia tree seedlings to over 100 farmers and some 30 communities in the Gomoa and Awutu-Effutu-Senya districts to establish woodlots this planting season. Between 2002 and 2004, ADRA supplied 97,629 tree seedlings to farmers and communities in the two districts.

Mr Isaac Kankam-Boadu, Winneba operational area Field Officer of ADRA, said this when some officials from the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) led by Mr Williams Boadi visited ADRA office. Mr Kankam-Boadu said between 1996 and 2002 ADRA established over 200 hectares of cassia woodlot in the two districts.

Briefing the team during their visit to some woodlots at Ayiresu and Awutu Kwei on Wednesday, Mr Kankam-Boadu said before ADRA started operation in the Central Region, most of the farmers who engage in charcoal production were cutting their wood from the natural forests. He said this resulted in women and children trekking for long distances to look for firewood so ADRA introduced and supported them in the establishment of Cassia woodlot.

Mr Kankam-Boadu said cassia was chosen because it grows fast, produces good quality charcoal and could also improve soil fertility. Mr Daniel Asomani, the Assemblyman for Ayiresu, said ADRA has provided the farmers with improved and high yielding maize for planting and assisted them with materials to build cribs for storage of maize.