Gifty Fremah Appiah, the Nkoranza South Municipal Director of Agriculture, has advised farmers benefiting from the government’s coconut seedling distribution programme to take precautionary measures to protect their farms as the dry season sets in.

She specifically urged farmers to create fire belts around their coconut plantations and to handle naked fires with extreme caution to prevent bushfires that could destroy the economic trees.

The free coconut seedling distribution was initiated by President John Mahama under the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA) to promote agribusiness, boost coconut production, and expand export opportunities.

The initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in collaboration with the Coconut Federation of Ghana (CocoFeG), with funding support from the Ghana Exim Bank.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Nkoranza in the Bono East Region, Madam Appiah stressed that improper handling of fire during the dry season poses a major threat to coconut farms. She encouraged farmers to adopt good agronomic practices such as mulching and composting to improve yields and protect seedlings.

She highlighted the significant economic potential of coconut, noting the availability of both local and international markets. She therefore urged beneficiary farmers to maintain and safeguard their plantations to fully benefit from the initiative.

Madam Appiah also commended President Mahama for implementing the PIAA, stating that the programme has sparked renewed interest in coconut farming within the municipality.

According to her, coconut cultivation has created employment opportunities in the area, with about 60 percent of beneficiaries being young people below the age of 40.

In a separate interview, Joseph Adu-Parko, an Agricultural Extension Agent in the municipality, appealed to farmers to weed their farms regularly to reduce the risk of bushfires.

He warned that allowing farms to become bushy could easily result in fire outbreaks that may destroy the coconut seedlings, and advised farmers to frequently visit and properly nurture their farms to ensure their success.