Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) has donated $40,800 to Agro Eco – Louis Bolk Institute Ghana (AELBI) for the construction of three Rural Service Centres at Nyinahin and Tepa in the Ashanti and Sankore in the Brong Ahafo region.
The Rural Service Centers will provide training and technical support to farmers and facilitate their access to inputs.
Agro Eco-Louis Bolk Institute has been active in the Ghana cocoa sector since 2005.
Whilst the advises and trains the private sector and farmer organizations in sustainable agriculture value chains, the Louis Bolk Institute Ghana also works on project management in sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, food security and assistance towards certification.
It also organizes farmer training, quality management, among others.
Regional Manager from Louis Bolk Institute Ghana, Willem-Albert Toose told a handing over ceremony at Nyinahin in the Atwima Mponua District of Ashanti region the centres will support farmers to improve their productivity.
By providing training and technical support on good farming practices for instance, farmers would be provided with farm services such as spraying, pruning, thinning and farm rehabilitation free of charge.
The RSC will be the basic approach in implementing the farming pillar of the Mondelez International Cocoa Life programme which recognizes suppliers and farmers who directly contribute to the share of cocoa.
“ADM (now OLAM) which operates one of the largest cocoa producing factories in Ghana, in Kumasi is a social investment programme that directs funds to initiatives and organisations that drive meaningful social, economic and environmental progress worldwide. The programme comprises three distinct focus areas: supporting the responsible development of agriculture, improving the quality of life in communities and fostering employee giving and volunteer activities”. Mr. Toose said.
One of the objectives of ADM is to ensure not only quality cocoa beans are sourced but also farmers are provided with all the support needed to sustain their businesses.
