MINING COMPANY SUPPORTS FARMERS IN FOOD PRODUCTION (PAGE 43, JULY 19, 2010)

ANGLOGOLD Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine) has committed GH¢94,177 this year to support 300 farmers in its host communities in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region.
The money is to be used for the production of maize, vegetables and the development of oil palm plantations towards the improvement of food security in the communities.
The support is being provided under the mining company’s sustainable alternative livelihood programme, known as “Hand-in-hand’ project.
It includes the provision of oil palm seedlings, seeds, fertiliser, weedicides and pesticides, machetes, Wellington boots, knapsack spraying machines and technical assistance for the beneficiaries.
The company piloted the maize project last year through a collaboration with the Municipal Food and Agriculture Directorate for 90 farmers.
Considering the success of the project, 150 more farmers have been supported to cultivate 300 acres of maize this year.
The farms are expected to yield about 150 metric tonnes of maize valued at GH¢90,000 (US$ 62,937) into the local economy. The project is to improve on food security, that is, food availability, accessibility and utilisation.
The company has also received 13,500 improved oil palm seedlings from the Oil Palm Research Institute at a cost of GH¢33,750 (US$ 23,600) for distribution to the farmers. In addition, the farmers would be given fertiliser, machetes and Wellington boots.
Since the programme started in 2005, the Iduapriem Mine has committed approximately US$2.5 million in its socio-economic development programme in the areas of education, health, water and sanitation, infrastructural development and alternative livelihood programme to improve the living conditions of people in the host communities.
The company has in addition presented start-up kits to the first batch of hairdresser trainees sponsored by the company and have completed their apprenticeship.
Speaking at a ceremony for the presentation of the farm inputs to the beneficiary farmers at Adieyie, the Managing Director of AngloGold Ashanti (Iduapriem Mine), Mr Billy Mawasha, said the programme had proved to be a source of employment and livelihood in the communities.
“We are very happy with the positive results and are also glad that the community is partnering with us to achieve these results,” he said.
Mr Mawasha said the Adieyie and Teberebie basic schools in the company’s operational area had also received assistance to cultivate three acres of maize to boost the study of agriculture in schools.
He said AngloGold Ashanti was equally committed to deepening the human resource development in the area.
According to him, the mine is currently sponsoring 63 students in various levels of study and apprenticeship at a total cost of GH¢150,000 per year under the company’s scholarship scheme.
Mr Mawasha said the company valued education that was why it had made a priority in its corporate social responsibility.
The managing director said the mine had started the construction of an additional three-classroom block at Wangarakrom/Badukrom for the upper primary level, adding, “We also hope to build junior high school (JHS) structures for Abompuniso next year to help decongest the Adieyie JHS.”
“We will want to encourage the beneficiaries to place value on the inputs they are receiving today to maximise the yield on their farms and have a successful farming season,” he stressed.
The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mrs Christina Kobbinah, in an address read on her behalf, said it was important to appreciate the structural underpinnings of relationships between mining companies and host communities.
She said that was imperative, since any sigh of disrespect and indifference shown to the host communities was likely to breed animosity, rancour and strife.
Mrs Kobbinah said most often than not, mining companies operating in the country had been accused of environmental degradation and neglect of the people in the communities where they operated.
The assembly member for Adieyie, Mr Ernest Amoateng, advised the farmers to use the inputs to cultivate their farms to increase food production in the area.
He also advised members of the various communities to help amicably settle all differences that might arise between them and the mining company.
The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Director of Food and Agriculture, Mr Daniel Essel, appealed to the company to support and encourage rice production in the municipality, since the area was endowed with a rainfall pattern and valleys suitable for rice production.