Mining company supports agriculture in Adieyie area

Adieyie (W/R), July 10, GNA - Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Limited (AAIL), a mining company, has supported 240 farmers in the Adieyie area, to engage in maize and vegetable cultivation and fish farming.

The beneficiary farmers received seedlings, seeds, fertilizer, weedicides, pesticides, machetes, Wellington boots, knapsack spraying machines and technical assistance.

Mr. Billy Wawasha, Managing Director of AAIL, told GNA in Adieyie on Friday that the project sought to boost agriculture in the mine's catchment areas adding that the farmers were expected to harvest 150 metric tones of maize this year.

He said that 110 additional farmers would be assisted to go into oil palm farming and a total of 24,000 dollars will be injected into that project.

Mr. Wawasha said that the farmers would be supported with fertilizers, Wellington boots and technical assistance from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

He said that Adieyie and Teberebie basic schools have been assisted to cultivate maize to boost the study of agriculture among school children.

Mr. Wawasha said the company was sponsoring 73 youth in the Senior High School and tertiary institutions and apprenticeship, including hairdressing.

He said 15,000 Ghana cedis have been released for the company's human resource development programme.

Mr. Ernest Amoateng, Assembly Member for Adieyie Area, advised members of the beneficiary communities to take advantage of the assistance and improve upon their living conditions.

Mr. Daniel Essel, Municipal Director of Food and Agriculture, appealed to the company to also support rice cultivation since the area has arable land for its farming.

Mrs. Christina Kobinah, Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Chief Executive, appealed to the mining company to undertake sound environmental and sanitation practices.