By: Ahiador Catherine
The local palm tree is always cherished in Ghana for its diversity of food products that can be obtained from it. Unfortunately however, the introduction of the Agric palm tree in Ghana has over the years rendered a stiff competition to its local counterpart as most consumers now prefer the ‘Agric palm tree.’
Mr. Emmanuel Duah, 2005 Eastern regional best farmer who is a multiple farmer has thus expressed worry over the development. As a multiple farmer, Mr. Aduah expressed worry over the rate at which the agric palm is being preferred by Ghanaians thereby forcing farmers to have the agric palm planted more than the local palm.
Attesting to the qualities of the ‘Agric palm’ nevertheless, he emphasized that a bucket of ‘Agric palm,’ when prepared is of better quality compared to, say, 20 buckets of the local palm. He also compared the quality of palm oil prepared from a bucket of Agric palm fruits as being of better quality than oil prepared from 20 buckets of the local fruits.
On the current rainfall pattern, Mr. Duah expressed worry at the current trend, adding that nowadays the rainfall is not seasonal. Explaining, he compared the current trend which he noted presented irregular rainfalls to the past where the rainfall seasons were regular and occurred at predictable times of the year.
He was particularly worried about farmers who recorded poor harvests as a result of the poor rains. He said maize farmers for instance planted the maize seeds thinking it would rain this year but rather the maize got rotten in the soil. He added that subsequent plantings were also destroyed by the heavy downpour which followed.
To him, this year’s rains have been bad so far, a situation he asserts could affect that food security of the country.
Source: ritefmonline.org
