An Agriculture Extension Agent (AEA) with the Bolgatanga Municipal Department of Food and Agriculture, Emmanuel Adongo has predicted low yields at the end of the farming season.
Speaking to David Azure on ‘Agric Forum’, A1 Radio’s flagship agriculture programme, Mr. Adongo said his prediction is due to the long drought that the region is faced with several weeks after sowing.
Mr. Adongo also attributed the likely low yields to the lackadaisical attitude of some farmers when the rains set in.
According to him, the majority of farmers fail to start their farming activities as early as possible.
“In our rounds to some of the farms, farmers who sow their crops early have the crops looking well, but for those who sowed last month, their crops are not looking good because of the drought; especially the early millet.”
“So this is an indication that they may be low yields this year. This means poverty may raise. Once again, maize is currently at a stage where they should have been enough rains for them to produce well but there are no rains.”
“So the situation is worrying us and the farmers as well, but we don’t have control over the rain pattern. Farmers could have averted this occurrence by sowing early as soon as the rain set in,” he said.
Emmanuel Adongo also used the opportunity to urge farmers to follow the advice the of officers who have been given the mandate to guide them. He also called on farmers to resort to local manure on their farms.
Source:A1Radioonline.Com|10.1MHZ|David Azure| Bolgatanga|
