Government urged to promote Jatropha cultivation

Mankessim 9C/R), June 22, GNA - Mr Felix Nyarko Antwi, first Vice-chairman of the Mfantseman West Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called on the government to take steps to promote the cultivation of Jatropha, a plant whose seeds can be processed into bio-diesel.

He noted that since Onua Amoah, an industrialist, announced the discovery about three years ago, no action had been taken by the government to encourage people to go into the cultivation of the plant.

Speaking to Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Mankessim on Wednesday, Mr Antwi stated that since the importation of crude oil had been the major burden on the economy, "We expected that prompt action would be taken on any discovery that would reduce crude oil importation".

He appealed to traditional authorities, district assemblies and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to take steps to, "Hold the bull by the horn".

Landowners should offer land on reasonable terms for the cultivation of the plant, he said and urged Onua Amoah and the others who discovered the plant to ensure ready market for the seeds to prevent the situation where their produce would not be bought as it happened to coffee and cashew.