Mampong District Carrot Farmers Complete Self-Reliance Program

The Africa West Area Self- Reliance Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in partnership with the Francis Addai Nimoh (FAN) Foundation, has successfully trained 240 farmers at  Asante Mampong in Ashanti Region on Self-Reliance principles.

The training program dubbed “My Agric Business for Self-Reliance” drew participants from the Asante Mampong Carrot Growers Association and volunteer trainers from the District. For flexibility and effective teaching, three centers were created namely; Kofiase, Asaam and Mampong centers and participants were assigned to one of these centers.  Lessons taught included, “Be your own Bank and How to start and improve your Agriculture Business".

Graduands and Trainers were each presented with Certificates of Participation and Appreciation respectively. 

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Hon. Francis Addai Nimoh, Founder, FAN Foundation explained that the goal of the training program is to assist farmers increase their production, preserve harvests and in the long term regulate prices on the market.

“The success of FAN Foundation is dependent on the success of the people who took part in the training program. We are anticipating the commencement of the second phase of the program which is the establishment of the Add Value station” he said.

Flint Mensah, Africa West Area Manager for Self-Reliance said the Church is committed to programs that seeks to aid individuals become temporally and spiritually self- reliant. He entreated graduands to apply all principles they have learned, “If you do not apply the principles you have been taught, then the time you committed to this training will not yield any fruit”.

Elder Stephen and Sister Debra McGary, Africa West Area Self-Reliance Specialists who also served as resource persons for the training program, commended the gradaunds for their commitment towards the program stressing that the lessons taught, was only a stepping stone towards their progression in their work.“Continue to seek knowledge on your field and teach your family the principles of self-reliance".

Touching on the establishment of the Add Value Station, Sister McGary explained that leaders of the Association are currently in talks with leaders of the community to secure a site for the station.

Hon. Thomas Appiah Kubi, Municipal Chief Executive for Mampong Municipal Assembly assured farmers and all parties involved in the program of the Assembly’s support towards the second phase of the project.

Felix Okyere, a Trainer for the project said that the training program has offered him the opportunity to properly manage his mobile money business. “Prior to my involvement in this training program, I was having challenges with my business but now I can proudly say that everything is going on smoothly”.  

Self-reliance services is an initiative of the Church. "It is the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the spiritual and temporal necessities of life for self and family”. The fundamental aim of this program is to train, advise and support individuals within and outside the Church to become self-reliant in all aspects of their life.