The District Chief Executive of Bolga East, David Akolgo Amoah has revealed the District received a total of 2,400 bags of fertiliser and 200kg of improved seeds under government flagship Planting for Food and Jobs programme.
Speaking at this year’s farmers’ day celebration held at the Agric park under the theme ‘Accelerating Agricultural Development through Value Addition’, Mr. Amoah said the president’s flagship programmes to promote agriculture in the country are bringing significant increase in food production.
He said, “the Planting for Food and Jobs Program seeks to improve farmers’ access to inputs and eventually increase yield. The District received a total of 2,400 bags of fertilisers and 200kg of improved seeds which were distributed to farmers across the District. The availability of these inputs despite the difficulty shows the government’s dedication and commitment to the agricultural sector.”
He continued to say the District distributed cashew seedlings to farmers on pilot basis.
“Under the planting for Export and Rural Development programme, the District monitored cashew seedlings which were distributed to the Gambibgo and Dachio communities in the previous years to improve cashew production and establishment. The indication I get from the department of Agriculture is that the cashew trees are doing well. I wish to take this opportunity to encourage farmers to make a conscious effort to plant trees to reduce the rate of desertification in this part of the country.”
Meanwhile, the Director of Agriculture in Bolga East District, Mrs. Diana Akumanue expressed worry about the loss of arable farmlands to urbanisation.
She said, “the district is gradually losing arable lands to urbanisation and if measures are not put in place, farmers in the district will be out of business in the near future. I would also like to use this opportunity to appeal for the extension of the small ruminant intervention, rearing for food and jobs and any other livestock intervention to farmers in Bolgatanga East District.”
Several awards were given to hard working farmers in the district.
Mr. Adongo Apaare from Gambibgo community was the overall District best farmer. He was given a tricycle, a pair of Wellington boots, a knapsack sprayer, a cutlass and two bags of green fertiliser.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz| Samuel Adagom|Ghana
