KUNASU: A new agricultural initiative has seen the planting of 1,430 oil-palm seedlings over 22 acres of post-mined land by 22 farmers at Kunasu, near Mankranso in the Ahafo-Ano South West District of Ashanti. This project is part of a broader effort to transform reclaimed mine lands into productive agricultural sites, focusing on oil palm and cowpea cultivation. According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative is spearheaded by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in collaboration with the Ahafo-Ano South West District Assembly, with financial backing from the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The project is an integral component of the "Inclusive Landscape Management for Shared Prosperity" program, which aims to rehabilitate mined lands and prepare them for agricultural use by offering technical and material support to local communities. The initiative is expected to enhance the management of reclaimed lands for farming, thereby fostering food production and au gmenting the incomes and livelihoods of participating farmers. Dr. Gerald Atampugre, Director of IWMI, emphasized that the project is designed not only to make the reclaimed lands profitable but also to bolster food security and farmer welfare. In support of the initiative, Mr. Joseph Frimpong Bonsu, the District Chief Executive, encouraged farmers to maintain their farms diligently and capitalize on the project's benefits. He also called on local youth to engage in the project rather than pursue illegal mining activities. Nana Obeng Agyemang, the Krontihene of the town and chair of the launch event, urged farmers to utilize the land for its intended agricultural purpose and to avoid illegal mining. He also advised livestock owners to prevent their animals from damaging the farms and encouraged reporting of any such incidents for legal action, noting the support of both the traditional council and the Assembly for the program.