The Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly in the Eastern Region has inaugurated a seed bank, a insignificant step towards bolstering food Security and preserving indigenous agricultural heritage.
The Abrewankor Community Seed Bank was officially commissioned on January 26.
The event held under the theme, “Empowering Farmers to Secure Crop Diversity,” marks a pivotal moment for the region’s agriculture potential and aligns with national efforts to promote sustainable farming practices.
The project Coordinator for NUS NETWORK, Dr. Daniel Nyadanu, said the core objectives include addressing critical challenges facing Ghanaian agriculture, safeguarding indigenous seeds from extinction, and ensuring the preservation of valuable genetic resources adapted to local conditions.
The Abrewankor Community Seek Bank is therefore designed to make indigenous seeds readily available and accessible to farmers particularly those in underserved communities.
The Chief Executive (MCE) for Yilo Krobo, Hon Francis Akumatey, speaking at the inauguration ceremony in, said the initiative resonates strongly with H.E John Dramani Mahama’s Feed Ghana policy, a national strategy aimed at transforming agriculture into a lucrative and attractive sector for the youth.
The Second of its kind in Ghana, the initiative represents a collaborative effort between local communities, government and international donor partners.
The Dadematse for Abrewankor area, Nene Tetteh Addy expressed gratitude to NUS NETWORK – GH, Netherlands,, Alliance Bioversity.
He bemoaned the fact that about ten (10) communities around Abrewankor depend on the only stream in the area which is contaminated with faecal matter.
The communities include Labolabo, Namusi, Azza Abrewankor, and others off Nkurakan to Somanya road in the Yilo krobo Municipality.
Mr Addy said the same stream is serving as source of water for the Labolabo Clinic. He added that because of lack of toilet facilities in the area many people engage in open defecation, which drains into the stream when it rains, thus causing many unknown communicable diseases.
He noted that the diseases affect mostly children, hence the urgent need for assistance to curb diseases outbreak.
Mr Addy therefore pleaded with the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly, government and non governmental organizations and philanthropists for help.
