BOPP empowers small-holder oil palm farmers

Adum Banso, (W/R) June 20, GNA - The Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP) purchased 11.933 metric tonnes of fresh palm fruits valued at GH¢11.8 from 438 smallholder farmers in 2010.

Mr. Samuel Avaala, the Estate Manager of the company, announced at the ninth Annual General Meeting of the Benso, Adum Banso, BOPP Smallholder Association (BABBSA) at Adum Banso, at the weekend. The meeting was under the theme: 93Empowering Smallholder Farmers into a Sustainable Financial Management System."

Mr. Avaala said the output of smallholder farmers is expected to be higher this year because many of them were using fertilizers on their farms. Therefore, palm fruits to be purchased by BOPP would increase threefol= d. Mr. Avaala commended the government for assisting to boost oil palm production by subsidizing fertilizers to members of the association.

Mr. Fiifi Ampong, Secretary of BABBSA, said members of the association were buying fertilizers at a higher cost before the introduction of the subsidy of fertilizers for the association in May this year.

He expressed the appreciation of the association to the government for assisting them to increase production at a reduced cost.

Mr. Ampong urged the government to make the subsidy a policy towards reducing poverty among smallholder farmers. He said the association has a 55-acre oil palm farm at Benso, established in 2007. It is being managed with proceeds accruing from smallholder investments.

Mr. Ampong said the association had acquired another 20-acre plot of land at Benso Subiriso for a similar venture. Dr (Mrs) Mary Opoku Asiamah, Western Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, (MOFA) who was the guest of honour, called on farmers to contribute towards the realization of the Better Ghana Agenda.

She advised farmers to manage their farms on business lines by keeping records to prevent financial losses and by ensuring transparency and accountability.

They should also repay all loans granted them by the association and the government to enable them to obtain more loans, she said. Dr. Asiamah said the MOFA is prepared to help members of the association to improve their financial position and production through extension services and urged them to take advantage of those services of the MOFA and the BOPP.