Wienco, an agri-business and agro-input company, has launched a tree planting programme to check the depletion and degradation of the land at Adjena-Dornor in the Eastern Region. The programme forms part of the corporate social responsibilities and commitment of the organisation towards retention and enhancement of the natural environment. The General Manager of Wienco, William Kotey, said agriculture depends on nature, therefore, it is the collective responsibility of everybody to assist in the conservation of the environment. Speaking on the anniversary theme, "Celebrating 30 years of sustainable agriculture", at a ceremony here, he emphasised that once we can conserve the environment, nature would continue to support the life of generations unborn. Mr. Kotey called on communities to develop interest in the sustenance of nature by their practices. Anthony Blay, Director of Agriculture of the Volta River Estate Limited (VREC), a subsidiary of Wienco, urged the elders of the community to inculcate the habit of tree planting into their children as a means of maintaining the earth and desist from human activities which affect the climate such as cutting of trees, blocking water ways, bush burning, among others. Charles Ankrah, Asuogyaman District Agricultural Extension Officer, said the community was chosen for the project due to its proximity to the Volta Lake. Briefing the gathering, he indicated that reforestation encourages biodiversity and regulates the climate and benefits the environment by reversing adverse effects of deforestation which leads to global warming. Speaking at the function Asuogyaman District Chief Executive, Johnson Ahiakpor, said government still considers agriculture as the engine of growth for the country. He recounted the recent harvest of 115 acres of maize under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in the district and the increase in cocoa price as some of the government's commitment to the development of the agricultural sector. Mr. Ahiakpor called on private enterprises in the agric sector to also support individual farmers to generate income. The community, through the chief, Dademantse Angmor Kwame, pledged its support to protect the trees by creating fire belts around them during the dry season. Source: The Ghanaian Times