The seedlings were nursed by the Department of Agriculture and funded from the Mineral Development Fund (MDF).

Mr Gilbert Kennedy Asmah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said the seedlings were for farmers registered under the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) programme.

He said the seedlings would help farmers generate enough raw materials to feed factories being constructed under the One District One Factory (1D1F) project.

Mr Asmah said even though the Assembly had distributed thousands of cocoa, coconuts and oil palm seedlings already, it had nursed more and would soon begin distribution.

He said the PERD was a government's flagship programme to entice the youth into farming, reduce unemployment and enable farmers to enlarge their farms and improve their living conditions.

He urged farmers who had not registered with the Municipal Department of Agriculture to get involved to enable them to benefit from the seedlings and earn additional profit.

"Any farmer who does not attach seriousness to his farm and leave the seedlings to go to waste would not be considered in subsequent programmes," he warned.

Mr Joseph Kojo Asante, on behalf of the other farmers, lauded the Government for the programme and pledged to take good care of the seedlings