Wienco embarks on nationwide tree planting

Accra, Oct 18, GNA - Wienco Ghana Limited, producers and exporters of agricultural products, has gone on a nationwide tree planting exercise to celebrate 30 years of doing business in Ghana.

The company, which assists farmers in various ways and sponsors programmes related to agriculture, planted the tress as part of its efforts to help to curb climate change through forestation.

The exercise took the company to the Northern Region, Upper East Region, the Western Region and the Eastern Region.

At the Pong-Tamale Senior High School in the Savelugu/Nanton District of the Northern Region, Wienco, with support from one of its subsidiaries, Integrated Tamale Fruit Company (ITFC), planted 400 seedlings of mango on a four-acre piece of land.

It planted 500 mahogany seedlings on 10.5 acres and 200 seedlings of cassia on two acres of land.

Mr James Amaligo, Assistant General Manager of the ITFC, said the planting exercise was one out of several initiatives the company had undertaken.

He said the forestation projects the company was undertaking would help in making amends for the massive destruction of the vegetation, adding "Wienco is a lover of nature."

Mr Amaligo said the trees would not only be of economic value but would also serve as wind breaks and a garden for experimentations into agriculture by students.

He said the school was selected based on the interest it showed in tree planting.

The Headmaster of Pong-Tamale SHS, Alhaji Mahama Gombila, commended Wienco for undertaking the exercise and said the forestation exercise marked a great turning point for the school.

The exercise was also undertaken at Tikobo Number One in the Jomoro District of the Western Region where Mr. Theun Van der Westhuizen, General Manager of the Wienco, said the tree planting exercise would help the country reclaim trees lost through mining, timber logging, farming and other degradable human activities.

Mr Westhuizen said it was one of the company's objectives to protect nature and the environment and would pursue programmes that would conserve forest and wildlife resources.

He said since the establishment of the company 30 years ago, it had set up subsidiary agricultural companies across the country to help preserve nature and support farmers.

The District Chief Executive for Jomoro, Mr Victor Nyanyi Kabenla, commended the company for initiating a laudable campaign and urged the entire citizenry to support the exercise to ensure its success.

Wienco also planted trees at Tumu in the Sissala East District of the Upper West Region where the District Chief Executive, Ms Ahjata Sulemanu, praised the company and its subsidiary, Masara, for introducing new techniques to farmers in the area that resulted in high yields of maize.

The Paramount Chief of the Gwollu Traditional Area, Kuoro Buktia Limann, thanked Masara for its assistance to farmers in the area and other organizations who are into agriculture.

He said he was particularly happy that Masara was in the forefront of helping farmers in the area use modern farming practices and techniques.