As part of measures to arrest seasonal migration of youth to southern part of the country in search for non-existing jobs, Nabdam District Assembly is set to established three line processing mill in the area.
The three line processing mills which include, sheabutter, groundnuts and soya when fully implemented will be in fulfillment of government’s promise of establishing a factory each in all districts of the country.
Mrs Agnes Anamoo, Nabdam District Chief Executive announced this on the occasion of the 33rd Farmers Day celebration held at Zanlerigu; a farming community in the district.
According to Mrs Anamoo, the mills when rolled out will “promote rapid industrialization of the district and create job opportunities and wealth for all”
This year’s celebration of the Farmers Day was on theme “Farming for food and jobs”. It is a day set aside to honor gallant farmers and fishermen in recognition of their untiring efforts for continuous feeding the country.
Mrs Anamoo stated that the district received a total of 5,225 bags of assorted chemical fertilizers under government’s “Planting for food and jobs” program. Out of this number, 3114 bags were disbursed to 697 farmers during the farming season while 2111 bags are presently in stores to cater for those who would be going into dry season farming.
“I wish to use this opportunity to entreat you all to take advantage of the availability of these inputs to go into dry season gardening and those of you who are already into it to upscale your farming” she admonished.
The Nabdam district assembly has awarded for the rehabilitation of the Kongo-Avareme dam which got broken during the raining season. “The contractor has since been on site and is expected to be completed by the end of this month” she stated.
This year’s celebration coincided with World Aids Day which is commemorated on 1st of December each year. Mrs. Anamoo bemoaned an increasing spate of HIV/AIDS cases recorded in the district this year.
“Last year, 52 cases recorded in our health facilities. This year, the number has increased to 56 when the year has not ended”
Acting Nabdam District Director of Agriculture, Mr Iddi Mahamadu speaking exclusive to A1radioonline.com appealed to government to consider employing more extension officers to help boost agriculture sector in the area.
“We have eight extension officers and if we have 21 officers, I think it will do”
Mr Iddi revealed that more than 60 percent of inputs distributed under the planting for food and jobs policy has been recovered.
He noted that the lack of logistics including means of transportation is another sector hampering agricultural production in the district.
“The only good means of transport is the motorbike which I am using. Most of our motorbikes are worn-out and the effect is that, we cannot reach all the farmers and that is how it is affecting the delivery”.
Ontoyen Denis emerged best farmer of the district. For his prize, he took home a motor tricycle, radio set, half piece wax print, a pair of Wellington boot, a bar of key shop, 3 cutlasses, 2 bags of compound fertilizer, 2 knapsack sprayers and a certificate.
By: Joshua Asaah: A1radioonline.com|Ghana
