AngloGold Ashanti (Ghana) Limited (AGAG), in collaboration with the Obuasi East District Department of Agriculture, has officially launched a significant community farming initiative aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and creating sustainable livelihoods for farmers in the Obuasi East District.
The initiative forms part of AGAG’s Social and Economic Development Plan (SEDP) for 2022 to 2025, which focuses on fostering economic resilience and improving food security within its host communities. The project will support cereal, vegetable, and oil palm farming, with an emphasis on capacity building, agronomic best practices, and market access for farmers.
As part of the cereal and vegetable support component for the 2025 farming season, AGAG and the Department of Agriculture have committed to the following key objectives:
Maize Cultivation: Support the cultivation of 25 acres of maize for 15 selected farmers across eight AGAG host communities within the Obuasi East Municipal Assembly.
Vegetable Cultivation: Facilitate the cultivation of 10 acres of vegetables for five farmers in four host communities.
Capacity Building: Provide training for 20 beneficiary farming households in good agronomic practices by December 2025.
Market Access: Improve access to markets for produce cultivated by the 20 beneficiary farmers by the end of the year.
This project is expected to significantly contribute to the reduction of unemployment, improve local food systems, and empower rural households with the tools and knowledge required for commercial agriculture.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Obuasi East Department of Agriculture will play a critical role in implementing the project through the following interventions:
Conduct comprehensive needs assessments for farmers.
Train selected farmers on modern and sustainable management practices.
Assign Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) to each farm cluster.
Mobilize AEAs for participation in Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops and other capacity development programmes.
Provide continuous agricultural extension services to beneficiaries.
Monitor and evaluate all on-farm activities related to cereals and vegetables.
Offer actionable recommendations to enhance productivity based on routine monitoring results.
Selection and Gender Representation of Beneficiary Farmers
Following thorough stakeholder engagements and consultations with local farming groups, a total of 20 farmers were selected to benefit from the programme. The composition includes:
Maize Farmers: 15 (13 males and 2 females)
Vegetable Farmers: 5 (4 males and 1 female)
This balanced selection reflects AGAG’s commitment to inclusivity and gender equity in its development initiatives.
Input Support for Beneficiaries
To ensure the success of the project, AGAG provided critical farm inputs to the beneficiary farmers. The inputs distributed include:
SN Input Quantity
1 NPK Fertilizer 40 bags
2 Urea 20 bags
3 Insecticide 45 bottles
4 Pre-Emergence Weedicide 36 bottles
5 Post-Emergence Weedicide 36 bottles
6 Fungicide 5 sachets
These inputs will be used to improve soil fertility, control pests and diseases, and ensure healthy crop development throughout the season.
Speaking at the official handover event, a representative of AngloGold Ashanti Ghana expressed the company’s unwavering commitment to promoting sustainable community development through agriculture. “We believe that agriculture is a powerful tool for transformation, and we are confident that this partnership will significantly improve the livelihoods of our host communities,” the representative said.
Officials from the Department of Agriculture also commended AGAG for its proactive support and reiterated the department’s dedication to providing technical assistance, ensuring that farmers can adopt and sustain best practices throughout the implementation of the project.
This initiative marks yet another milestone in AGAG’s efforts to drive long-term socio-economic development in the Obuasi East District. Through strategic partnerships and community-focused investments, the company continues to make a positive impact on local livelihoods and Ghana’s agricultural future.