MIDENO donates coffee seedlings to farmers

Farmers in Boyo Division of the Northwest Region have been told to take advantage of the free distribution of improved coffee seedlings and the increase in coffee prices on the world market to enrich themselves.

The Director General of the Northwest Development Authority, MIDENO, John B Ndeh, was addressing young farmers in Fundong, while handing over 30,000 improved coffee seedlings to farmers at the MIDENO Seed and Demonstration Centre in Fundong recently.

The event was presided over by the Senior Divisional Officer for Boyo, Joseph Oum II.

The Director General of MIDENOsaid the gesture is part of Government’s drive to revamp the coffee and cocoa sector and a way to eradicate poverty in Boyo Division.

As he estimated, the 30,000 seedlings,if planted on 25 hectares of land, will produce about 12 tons of coffee in two years and an anticipated annual turnover of FCFA 25 million.

Ndeh therefore urged the farmers to appreciate the Government and make good use of the resources at their disposal as he described the event as a “Life changing opportunity”.

On his part, the SDO for Boyo congratulated MIDENO for carrying the message of the President of the Republic to farmers in Boyo. He requested a proper follow-up of the farmers in other to achieve the expected results.

“I am therefore requesting the frontline staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the related services to ensure thorough follow-up and supervision of the beneficiaries and report to me regularly or on quarterly bases.”

The SDO also stressed that copies of quarterly reports be addressed to MIDENO.

The Mayor of Fundong, Denis Awoh Ndang, expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic for the good work he has done through MIDENO and urged the beneficiaries to effectively use the seedlings and cause MIDENO to bring more seedlings in the future.

Mayor Awoh Ndang equally recognised the support MIDENO has been giving to Fundong since its creation in the 1980s.

The farmers’ representative, Ibrahim Melen, acknowledged MIDENO for this largesse and promised on behalf of the farmers to put the seeds into good use. “There shall be no beggar in Boyo again,” Melen reiterated.

MIDENO Officials also promised to donate 10,000 more seeds to Boyo in 2017 considering that Boyo is one of the highest coffee production centres in the Northwest. The other six Divisions in the Northwest will benefit from the gesture.