MARKET DEVELOPMENT
African Lion Agriculture to Plant 10,000 Acres of Palm Oil
African Lion Agriculture to Plant 10,000 Acres of Palm Oil
11/04/2014 (Awareness Times) - A component project under the Sierra Rutile Mining Company, the Africa Lion Agricultural Company, has commenced a serial cultivation of palm oil, coffee, pineapple, cocoa and rubber plantations in Imperi, Upper Banta and Jong chiefdoms among other mining communities. The Africa Lion Agriculture intends to plant over ten thousand acres of oil palm as well as hundreds of acres of pineapple, cocoa, coffee and rubber plantations. The project started over a year ago as an alternative to mining in order to improve the livelihood of people in Sierra Rutile mining communities.
During a tour with the media at the Motinga nursery site at Sierra Rutile on Monday 7th April 2014, Community Affairs Manager at Africa Lion Agriculture, Dauda Kamara said about four hundred and fifty people have gained employment from the agricultural project. He disclosed that over 90% of the employees, mostly indigenes, cannot read or write but have been trained to carry out modern technical agricultural activities. In 2013, he explained, they planted one hundred and fifty five hectares of oil palm, 36 hectares of rubber, 3 hectares of cocoa, one hectare of coffee and 13 hectares of pineapple trees respectively. He said this year alone, they have planted 850 hectares of palm oil, 450 hectares of rubber plantation, 30 hectares of cocoa and 30 hectares of pineapple among other plantations in the country. About one hundred and twenty thousand palm oil and hundreds of rubber nursery are at the site ready for cultivation, according to him.
The Community Affairs Manager further disclosed that they are planting oil palm in order to produce bio fuel for the operation of Sierra Rutile and to get palm oil products. He said they also intend to construct an oil mill that will generate power on its own for the operations of the company. He informed that they will also create market for the other plantations, pointing out that they have already started negotiations with an international pineapple juice company based in the country to work as a team.
The entire project is being sponsored by Pala Investment, a multi- million dollar company that has the highest shares at Sierra Rutile Limited.
During a tour with the media at the Motinga nursery site at Sierra Rutile on Monday 7th April 2014, Community Affairs Manager at Africa Lion Agriculture, Dauda Kamara said about four hundred and fifty people have gained employment from the agricultural project. He disclosed that over 90% of the employees, mostly indigenes, cannot read or write but have been trained to carry out modern technical agricultural activities. In 2013, he explained, they planted one hundred and fifty five hectares of oil palm, 36 hectares of rubber, 3 hectares of cocoa, one hectare of coffee and 13 hectares of pineapple trees respectively. He said this year alone, they have planted 850 hectares of palm oil, 450 hectares of rubber plantation, 30 hectares of cocoa and 30 hectares of pineapple among other plantations in the country. About one hundred and twenty thousand palm oil and hundreds of rubber nursery are at the site ready for cultivation, according to him.
The Community Affairs Manager further disclosed that they are planting oil palm in order to produce bio fuel for the operation of Sierra Rutile and to get palm oil products. He said they also intend to construct an oil mill that will generate power on its own for the operations of the company. He informed that they will also create market for the other plantations, pointing out that they have already started negotiations with an international pineapple juice company based in the country to work as a team.
The entire project is being sponsored by Pala Investment, a multi- million dollar company that has the highest shares at Sierra Rutile Limited.