Minerals Commission promotes tree planting

Samuel K. Obour Aug - 27 - 2013 , 02:00

Some of the oil palm seedlings meant for cultivation on lands reclaimed after mining. The Minerals Commission has nursed about 3,300 oil palm seedlings at Dunkwa Ayamfuri in the Upper Denkyira East District in the Central Region for cultivation on lands reclaimed after mining activities had taken place in parts of the district.

Under the five-year project, the commission will give the oil palm seedlings to farmers free of charge, in addition to an unspecified amount of money to clear their lands for cultivation.

Furthermore, it will give fertilisers to the farmers for free to inter-plant subsistent crops that the farmers can live on while waiting for the palm trees to mature for harvesting.

The commission will also take up the management of the farms, including weeding, for one year, after which the farms and all responsibilities will be handed over to the farmers.

The Upper Denkyira East District Mining Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr Wilson Waanab Zoogah, told the Daily Graphic at Dunkwa Ayamfuri that the project was multi-purpose in respect of restoring the land to good use after mining and giving alternative livelihood support to farmers.

Large acres of farmland in Dunkwa and its surrounding areas have been consumed by small-scale mining activities, but the Minerals Commission is working to ensure the reclamation of the lands after mining for restoration of same to their original status.

The nursing of the oil palm seedlings is a replication of a similar project undertaken by the commission at Prestea in the Western Region which, according to Mr Zoogah, had been very successful.

He, therefore, advised small-scale miners who had finished reclaiming their lands and farmers in the area to take advantage of the opportunity to cultivate the oil palm seedlings.