The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, (PFAG) has introduced a new variety of sorghum seeds to farmers in the Upper East Region to improve their food production.
The new grain according to the association when planted will take up to 85 days for harvest and can have a yield of about twice the indigenous grain sorghum.
Speaking on the Day Break Upper East Show, the Executive Director of PFAG, Dr. Charles Nyaaba indicated that the grain not only comes to improve food security among farmers but is an alternative grain that can tackle the looming danger of drought, especially in the Northern part of the country.
“If you look up North, especially Upper East and Upper West Regions, you will realise that the rains are not coming like those days. And all this is due to climate change. So, as farmers, we need to change our tactics on how, what, and when to plant. Part of the reason for this new variety of sorghum is that it does not take a longer period for harvest, unlike the other one. Within 85 days when planted, it is ready for harvest.”
Commenting on the cost and farmers’ inability to purchase the seed, the Director noted that farmers should rather be focusing on the benefits they will get instead of the cost.
“Of course, issues of pricing and others will pop up but I can assure farmers that it is not expensive as compared to the loss one could have fallen in when using the indigenous sorghum. With Ghc350.00 one can get the benefit that he/she would not have on an acre. Let us begin to see farming as a business and how we can invest in it to improve ourselves as farmers.”
He added that the new sorghum can be found in all the agricultural officers and shops in the country hence farmers should not hesitate to reach out.
He, therefore, encouraged farmers not to rely solely on governments but be innovative in their ventures.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana
