The Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) Program as a decentralized National Tree Crop Program to promote rural economic growth and improve household incomes of rural farmers through the provision of certified improved seedlings, extension services, business support and regulatory mechanisms has been benefited to people of Tain district in the Bono region.
More than 900 farmers in the Tain district have been supplied with more than 25,000 seedlings of coconut as part of the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) flagship program and it is expected to immensely contribute to rural economic growth and export in Ghana.
The distribution which took two days by the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Tain, Hon. Lucy Akyeampong, the farmers and beneficiaries were encouraged to actively get involved in this remarkably important program.
She noted in an interview with Apiah-Kubi to the beneficiaries that the exercise is crucial and timely to serve the District’s economic.
“Tree crops hold the potential to not just improve our local economy but to strengthen Ghana's presence in the global export market. These seedlings represent not just trees, but the foundation of industries, jobs, and the promise of a greener future,” she stated.
She reiterated that the support is a token of government’s appreciation to farmers' indomitable spirit and relentless effort, adding that initiative is also a call to action, to diversify, innovate, and push the boundaries of what the country's land can produce.
The DCE lauded the Nana Addo led NPP government for the contribution in facilitating the acquisition of these seedlings while noting that the next phase of the program is to raise 200,000 oil palm seedlings for all farmers in the Tain District.
While advising farmers not to solely rely on external support, the District Director of Agriculture, Mr. Ahmed Afford Adama also encouraged farmers to approach farming with all the attention it deserves because it is just like any other important business that has the potency of making one’s life better with pecuniary.
He added the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) program, a module under the Government of Ghana’s strategic program for the growth and development of agriculture, needs more attention to promoting rural economic growth and improve household incomes of farmers.
He concluded that more of the seedlings are yet to be seen in the district to be disturbed.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed their respective gratitude for the gesture, saying the distribution has reduced their burden of purchasing the seedlings.
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