Tree planting heralds World Food Day

Accra, Oct 10, GNA - Forty seedlings of grafted mango were on Tuesday planted at the Odorgonno Secondary School, Awoshie in Accra, as part of activities marking this year's national celebration of World Food Day.

Officials of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Members of the 2006 World Food Planning Committee, and Staff and Students of the School took part in the planting of the trees, procured by MOFA. The Ministry pledged three million cedis to the school to support the nurturing of the young mango plants. The World Food Day, which is being celebrated this year on the theme: "Invest in Agriculture for Food Security - the Whole World Will Profit,=94 would be held with a flag raising ceremony at the forecourt of the State House, Accra.

Reading a statement on behalf of Mr. Ernest Debrah, Minister of Food and Agriculture, the Deputy Minister, Ms. Anna Nyamekye underscored the importance of trees, and urged teachers and students to actively undertake or participate in tree planting to keep the surroundings green. She said the exercise should go beyond a symbolic activity since human life depended, to a large extent on trees, since they provided food, shelter, wood fuel and also purified the air.

"I don't think we should wait for the last tree to die for the last man too to die," the Mr Debrah said.

Mr Quartey Papafio, District Chief Executive for Ga West, in a speech read for him by Mr Prince Newman, Assistant Director of Education, said the District, which covered 859 square kilometres has a good soil quality suitable for the cultivation of pineapples, fruit trees and vegetable.

He said however that, sand winning and competition from other non-agricultural activities were causing extensive damage to the plant cover.

Mr. Papafio called on for formation of active tree-planting clubs in schools, communities and workplaces to plant trees to sustain the fast disappearing plant cover.

Mrs Mary Amankwa, Headmistress of the school, thanked the MOFA for the selection of the School for the project and promised that the young trees would be properly catered for.