Rikolto Ghana to Establish Citronella Processing Plant in Bibiani to Create Alternative Livelihoods

Rikolto Ghana to Establish Citronella Processing Plant in Bibiani to Create Alternative Livelihoods

Bibiani, Western North Region — Rikolto Ghana, an international non-governmental organisation, is preparing to establish a processing plant to extract oil from Citronella as part of efforts to provide alternative livelihoods for farmers and help reduce illegal mining activities in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality.

The initiative is being undertaken in consultation and collaboration with the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal Assembly and will involve the cultivation of Citronella by selected farmers and the establishment of a processing facility to distil oil from the plant.

The project is expected to provide farmers with an additional source of income while reducing their dependence on activities that contribute to the destruction of agricultural lands and water bodies.

According to Rikolto Ghana, preliminary preparations for the project are at an advanced stage, with discussions ongoing to identify suitable communities and farmers who will participate in the programme.

The initiative will establish a value chain covering the cultivation of Citronella, processing of the plant into oil and the marketing of the final product.

Speaking to Peace News after engaging the Municipal Chief Executive, the Programme Coordinator for Rikolto Ghana, Mr. Joshua Adjoteye, explained the objectives of the alternative livelihood programme and the benefits farmers are expected to derive from the project.

He assured farmers who participate in the programme of efforts to secure a ready market for the Citronella oil, saying the project is intended to provide them with a sustainable and profitable source of livelihood.

Mr. Adjoteye also highlighted some of the direct benefits farmers are expected to receive through their participation in the Citronella project.

He disclosed that Rikolto Ghana will also introduce Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) to support farmers, particularly during the cocoa off-season.

According to him, the VSLA initiative will enable farmers to save, access small loans and strengthen their financial capacity while engaging in alternative livelihood activities.

The Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Sebastian Obeng, also explained the Assembly’s collaboration with Rikolto Ghana and the importance of the project to the Municipality.

He encouraged farmers to embrace the initiative when it is rolled out and assured that the Municipal Assembly is ready to support the process to ensure its successful implementation.

The MCE said the project could contribute to efforts to address illegal mining by providing farmers with a viable alternative source of income.

The Citronella initiative is expected to create opportunities across the value chain, including cultivation, processing, marketing and other related activities.

It is also expected to support efforts to restore and sustainably use agricultural lands affected by illegal mining while improving the livelihoods of farmers in the Municipality.

The project forms part of broader efforts by stakeholders to promote alternative livelihoods and encourage communities to protect their agricultural lands and natural resources.

Source:Bibianinews.com