Newmont supports 5000 farmers

Ntotroso (B/A) Nov. 24 ,GNA - The Ahafo project of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited at Kenyasi in Asutifi District of Brong-Ahafo, has since 2006 spent 10 million dollars in financial assistance, inputs and extension services to support 5000 farmers in the mine's host communities. The mining company offered the support through its Agricultural Improvement and Land Access Programme (AILAP) and the Ahafo-Agri-business Growth Initiative (AAGI).

Through these programmes, there has been an increase in farmland for maize production from 5,840 hectares in 2004 to 6,102 hectares in 2009, resulting in an estimated maize production from 8,112 metric tonnes to 13,983 metric tonnes in the same period. Mr. Kojo Bedu-Addo, External Affairs Manager of the Ahafo mine, disclosed this at an open day held at Ntotroso, near Kenyasi on Tuesday for the beneficiary farmers to exhibit some of their produce. The day was under the theme: "Grow more food: food security, our priority", and food stuffs displayed included yam, maize, cocoyam, cassava and plantain.

Other farmers who are into livestock production under the Skills Development for Income Improvement Programme of Newmont also showcased their livestock.

Mr. Bedu-Addo explained that the AILAP and the AAGI were established to help farmers affected by the development of the mine to gain access to land, increase agricultural productivity, produce diversity, yield and market access.

He said under the programmes, the farmers had also benefited from business plan training programme, which had given them the capacity to keep simple farm records, track their operations, access market and generally move away from subsistence farming to agro-enterprise. The external affairs manager said Newmont had a vested interest in the improvement of livelihoods and economic development of communities in the Asutifi District and would continue to partner with the traditional authorities, District Assembly and community groups and associations for development.

Mr. Kodwo Intsuah, District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), disclosed that since the introduction of the AILAP in 2006, rice production had increased from 286 metric tonnes to 388 metric tonnes, with cocoyam increasing from 101,104 metric tonnes to 137,213 metric tonnes. Cassava production had also increased from 236,178 to 264,002 whilst yam had jumped from 1,551 to 2,014 with plantain increasing from 216,713 to 301,438 metric tonnes in the same period, Mr. Intsuah added. He attributed the steady increase in the volume of farm produce to increased extension service and high yielding farm inputs supplied to the farmers through the support of the AILAP. Mr. Intsuah said because of the adoption of good agricultural practices by the farmers, bumper harvest had marked that peak of every harvest and called for intervention in the areas of marketing and value chain. "Even though MOFA is its best to address the issues, there is the need for NGGL as partner in development to assist marketing and processing of these commodities to add value to them to offset heavy losses by the farmers on their incomes and standard of living", Mr. Intsuah added. Prizes ranging from radio cassette players, Wellington boots, cutlasses among others, were later presented to deserving farmers. 24 Nov.10