Three bodies supply seedlings to Lake Bosumtwe communities

The beneficiary communities include Obu, Abonu, Adwafo, Abrodwom, Abaase, Anyinatiase and Apewu. The others are  Banso, Hantaase, Dompa, Ankaase and Duase.

These communities which surround the Bosomtwe basin, are administratively governed by two district assemblies- Bosomtwe and Bosome Freho,  and are  largely agrarian and depend on the cultivation of cocoa as the key cash crop and plantain, cassava, maize and vegetables for subsistence.

Some of the seedlings which will improve  soil conservation  in the Bosomtwe basin are mangoes, oranges, coconuts , cocoa, mahogany, wawa, odum and sapele .

Fishing,  which is practised all year round, used to be a major predominant livelihood that  directly  generated much revenue for the young men and women living in the Bosomtwe basin, but has declined over the years.

Briefing  the Daily Graphic on the importance of the free distribution of assorted seedlings to farmers around the Bosomtwe basin, a sociologist at FORIG, Mr Eric Nutakor, said their initiative followed a study conducted at the basin.

He said the study was intended to identify the priorities of the communities in the catchment area of the lake and their findings indicated that poor farming practices on the banks of the lake, coupled with poor soil fertility  with low moisture retention, erosion and illegal mining, among others, did not only affect yield, but also undermined income generation.

He  said  using assorted detergents to wash and bath in the lake, inadequate extension officers to educate farmers on the modern way of farming, alternatives of using  agro-chemicals in land preparation and failure to practice soil fertility mechanisms  intended to improve the productive capacity of the land, among others, also affected yield and income generation.

Mr Nutakor said it was to address some of these challenges  confronting the farmers in particular and residents in general that they initiated the free seedlings distribution exercise.

He added their interactions with interest groups indicated that they were  not only ready to  embrace modern farming, but also ready to build their capacity and use the seedlings to restore the fertility of the soil.

The seedlings include fruits, cash crops and timber which are drought-tolerant, have high yields, and would mature early  to benefit them.

He also said it was therefore important for traditional authorities to encourage  their people to  nurture the seedlings  very well.

Story by George Ernest Asare