Fire destroyed close to 120 acres of cashew plantation farm at Kparekpare in the Oti Region last Sunday resulting in the loss of investment worth hundreds of Ghana Cedis.
The owner of the plantation and CEO of De Jordans Agro and Investment, Jordan Sheriff Owusu, told Asaase News all precautionary measures had been taken on site including the creation of fire belt.
“It’s quite unfortunate because we’ve already done fire belt all around the farm such so there is no way any fire will come from an external source and penetrate the farm,” Owusu noted.
He said an estimated GHC400,000 worth of his life’s investment has gone down the drain after the incident.
“This cashew plantation started about six years ago and a whole lot of investment has gone into this plantation. Besides the cost of the land, cost of clearing plantation is worth GHC400,000, this incident will go a long way to affect me in the sense that I invested all that I have into this project,” Owusu stated.
He has appealed to the government to come to his aid in “this trying times” as a youth who is into farming.
“I’m calling on the government and other philanthropists to rehabilitate the plantation. There are a few other cashew plantations that got burnt with mine. If we are unable to recover our losses it will deter other youth from venturing into the agriculture sector. Since the government is trying to promote cashew in the region, I pray that the government agencies will help us get back on our feet,” Owusu said.
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