A total of 59 hectares has been cultivated with a variety of tree species in the Birim Central Municipality under the Youth in Agriculture Module of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
The plantations, which are sited at Akyem Manso and Mmofram are interspersed with maize farms to ensure food security in the area.
Mr Baafour Aboagye, Municipal Youth Employment Coordinator, said this when he conducted Ms Ophelia Koomson, Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive, to inspect the plantation, on Tuesday.
He indicated that 59 youths were engaged in the programme, aimed at helping to reduce youth unemployment, in the area.
Mr Aboagye said so far nine hectares of maize that was harvested would be used to support the school feeding programme, while the trees were to assist the government's re-afforestation exercise.
He suggested that apart from the plantation, piggery and goat rearing should be included in the programme to create more employment for the youth.
Mr Aboagye said the main challenge facing them was storage facilities, which would enable them to store large quantities of maize to be harvested soon and the Wellington boots for the group.
Ms Koomson commended the youth on their hard work and assured them of the Government's commitment to ensure that the programme succeeds.
She indicated that the programme was part of the government's Better Ghana Agenda and challenged the youth to take advantage of such programmes to be self-employed instead of drifting to the urban centres to look for non-existent "white collar" jobs.