As part of efforts to expand Rice production in the Builsa South District, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in collaboration with Savannah Zone Agricultural Productivity Improvement Project (SAPIP) have secured funding from the African Development Bank to develop 300 hectares (3,000,000 square meters) of land for rice cultivation at the Tuedema Rice Valley.
The land has been handed over for construction work (creation of canals, drying platforms, and walkways) and it is expected to be ready for use within four months.
Speaking to the media, the District Director of Agriculture, Sylvan Duada Danaa noted that the development and expansion of the Tuedema and Gbedembilisi Rice Valley will help make Builsa South become the rice hub in the country.
“I cannot tell how excited I am for this initiative. I believed that the development of 300 hectors at the Tuedema Rice Valley and 500 hectors at the Gbedembilisi Rice Valley will make Builsa South the rice hub in the region and for the country at large.”
Appreciating the initiative and benefits it will have for farmers in the district, Mr. Danaa called on stakeholders in agriculture and business partners to considers the vast rice valley in the district as business opportunities.
The Project Engineer of SAPIP, Mr. Peter Dakudzi stated that the project will be completed in time for the community to benefit, adding that the contractor is expected to employ laborers from the community.
Mr. Tutu Kwame Thomas of Jargo Apex construction Limited, also indicated that they will complete the project within the assigned time.
However, the rice valley when completed is expected to have a mechanized borehole, bigger drying platforms, and an office that could be used as an office of the Agric extension officers or for the storage of fertilizer.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana
