Mpamso Forest to be restocked with snails

Asikasu (B/A), Nov. 22, GNA - The Mpamso Forest Reserve near Asikasu in the Dormaa District that was once replete with snails is to be replenished to restore the delicacy.

Researchers from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi have concluded feasibility studies on the project's socio-economic viability and are set to introduce improved variety of snails into the forest under strict protection.

Dr. A.A. Kontor, the Dormaa District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) dropped the hint in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after this year's National Farmers' Day celebration held at Asikasu.

Dr. Kontor revealed that a snail, according to experts, is capable of laying an average of 100 eggs each quarter of the year thereby having the potential to vigorously accelerate the replenishment exercise. He said members of the Mpamso Forest's fringe communities would remain barred from hunting snails in and around the forest for a period so that the young snails could grow and multiply in peace.

The District Director stressed that bushfires remained the major threat to forests and forest products adding, "much of the forests could be resuscitated with the permanent avoidance of bushfires".

Dr. Kontor charged anti-bushfire volunteer squads and communities on the forest's fringes to provide maximum protection to the forest to make the snail replenishment exercise successful.

Mr. Paul Ankomah, Chairman of the District Anti-Bushfire Committee noted that absolute avoidance of bushfires remained a patriotic exercise that should engage the attention of all and sundry, irrespective of political affiliation.

He called on the Dormaa District Assembly to set its anti-bushfire bylaws in motion so as to halt miscreants from further depletion of the remaining forests.