Efutu farmers get hybrid coconut seedlings

Thirty farmers in the Effutu Municipality in the Central Region have been supplied with 2,400 hybrid dwarf coconut tree seedlings for planting under the Livelihood Restoration Project.

The Coconut variety that matures early can tolerate the Cape Saint Paul Wilt disease that had destroyed over 80 per cent of the traditional coconut trees along the coastal belt of the country.

Mr Emmanuel Oduro, Acting Effutu Municipal Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) announced this at a forum of farmers and fishermen at New Winneba.

The Seedlings were from the Coconut Seeds Garden at Aiyinase in the Ellembele District of the Western Region, established under the Ghana -Japan-Cote D’Ivoire coconut Project initiated by the Government of Ghana to revive the coconut industry.

Mr Oduro said farmers would be given monthly allowances and free fertilizers by MOFA, and added that the programme will cover the whole Effutu Minicipality within the next four years.

The Effutu Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Nii Ephraim, said the destruction of about 80 per cent of coconut trees by the Cape Saint Paul Wilt disease had necessitated the introduction of the Livelihood Restoration project by the government to reduce the current coconut crisis.

He urged Agricultural Extension Officers to intensify their education on measures to reduce post-harvest losses.

Source: GNA