LIMBE, Cameroon, Jan. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the holidays, Herakles Farms (also known as SG-SOC), a New York-based agriculture company operating in Ghana and Cameroon, donated food to 1,700 households in 38 villages located in the Nguti subdivision of Kupe-Muanenguba and in Mundemba and Toko in Ndian. In total, 11 tons of rice and 10 tons of fish were distributed to more than 8,000 individuals in the Nguti, Mundemba and Toko areas.

The holiday food program was the first of its kind for these communities, and just one of Herakles Farms' diverse social programs to support the communities within its project areas. "The holiday season is a period when there is particularly intense pressure on wildlife due to bushmeat hunting, as families work to put food on their tables. It is the company's hope that this gift will alleviate such pressure this year," said Bruce Wrobel, the company's CEO. In the next few years, Herakles Farms plans to develop a wider range of longer-term programs, such as capacity building for smallholder farmers and animal husbandry businesses to support alternative sources of protein and incomes. Such programs would both enhance livelihood development and reduce the poaching of endangered species.

"We know the financial difficulties many families face to put food on their table," said Dr. Blessed Okole, Herakles Farms' Senior Vice President for Strategic Planning and Field Operations, who led the holiday food campaign. "We felt it was important for every home in the project affected villages to have a decent meal with their family during the holidays."

Many villagers expressed their appreciation for the program and good will towards Herakles Farms and its presence in the community. "We're very happy for the gift," said Chief Wangoe Philip of Fabe, located in the Mundemba subdivision. "My people are very grateful. They thank Herakles Farms for what it has done."

In addition to the food program, Herakles Farms has been providing the St. John of God Hospital Nguti with electricity between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. Through Herakles Farms' support, the hospital has been able to improve its services and save lives by attending to emergency cases, performing deliveries and other services at night that require a constant flow of electricity. The hospital has also been able to reduce operating costs associated with running a generator throughout the night.

"We are very appreciative of Herakles Farms for immensely contributing to the development of St. John of God Hospital Nguti through the many services they have provided," stated Rev. Br. Gregorio Matim of St. John of God Hospital Nguti. "We will continue to pledge our support to all of their projects and developments within our compound and Nguti subdivision as a whole."

"These efforts are part of our long-term commitment to develop social programs working side-by-side with communities," said Herakles Farms CEO Bruce Wrobel.

About Herakles Farms
Established in 2009, Herakles Farms is focused on identifying and implementing solutions to important food security issues in Africa. The management team has a track record of developing environmentally and socially sustainable projects that result in economic development in some of the least-developed African countries, and has received numerous awards for its work. Herakles Farms is guided by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards and Equator Principles. www.heraklesfarms.com

Contact Information:
Herakles Farms
+1-212-351-0000
publicrelations@heraklesfarms.com

SOURCE Herakles Farms