Asanko Gold Ghana Limited has extended support to 80 smallholder farmers across 12 communities in the Amansie West and Amansie South districts in the Ashanti Region.
The intervention formed part of the implementation of the mining company's Community Agricultural Support Programme.
The second phase of the programme is intended to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen food security and help farmers address challenges including rising input costs, changing rainfall patterns and limited access to agricultural extension services.
Under Phase Two of the programme, each participating farmer cultivating at least one acre will receive weed-control inputs, Wellington boots, a raincoat, a cutlass and a knapsack sprayer.
The Social Responsibility Manager of Asanko, Mr Isaac Kwakye, said the initiative formed part of efforts to strengthen agriculture and support livelihoods within the company's host communities. He said the provision of farming inputs, technical support and improved agricultural practices would help farmers increase production and contribute to food availability in the area.
"We thought it wise to help our farmers to boost food production. If we can support them with farming inputs, it will go a long way in augmenting their farm produce, which in the end will bring more food to the area," he said.
Mr Kwakye explained that beneficiaries from the first phase would continue to receive agricultural extension services to help them sustain and build on the progress made, while new farmers are brought onto the programme under Phase Two.
The General Manager of Asanko Gold Ghana Limited, Mr Justice Fenteng, said agriculture remained an important source of food and income for households in the company's host communities. He said farmers continued to face challenges including high input costs, weed-control difficulties, changing rainfall patterns and limited access to technical support.
Mr Fenteng said the items had been selected to support farmers in activities ranging from land preparation and weed management to improved safety while working on their farms. He added that the programme was not limited to the distribution of inputs but also focused on building farmers' knowledge and capacity to use the support effectively.
"Beneficiaries will therefore receive practical training in improved and climate-resilient farming methods, including farm planning, weed management, responsible use of inputs, safe handling of equipment and approaches to adapting farming practices to changing rainfall patterns and other weather conditions," he stressed.
The Amansie South District Assistant Director of Agriculture, Ms Esther Afoakwa, said illegal mining was contributing to declining interest in agriculture among young people in the district. She said farming was increasingly being left to older people as some young people turned to mining activities for income.
"We are facing challenges due to illegal mining activities since the youth are not interested in agriculture. It is only the aged who are into agriculture," she said.
Ms Afoakwa welcomed the intervention, saying the inputs, equipment and technical support would help farmers improve their activities and strengthen household livelihoods. She added that continued support for agriculture was important towards sustaining crop production while promoting farming as a viable source of livelihood in the area.
The beneficiary farmers welcomed the initiative and expressed appreciation for the support.
"We are grateful to Asanko for the support. It will help us improve our farming activities, and we hope the company will continue to support farmers in our communities," one beneficiary farmer said.
