Farmers appeals for implementation of housing scheme

The Acting President of the Ghana National association of Farmers and Fishermen, Nai Kwao Otuo V, has appealed to the government to expedite action on plans to construct houses for farmers in the regions on hire purchase basis.

He said this at a farmers' rally organized to round off activities initiated by the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District branch of the association at Awutu Gyakaw.

Nai Kwao Otuo attributed the apparent lack of interest developed by the youth in agriculture to absence of better housing and other incentives for peasant farmers in food growing areas.

He expressed optimism that if the government implements the proposed housing project for farmers in the remote areas it would attract the youth who had abandoned their communities and migrated to the cities for non-existing jobs.

Nai Kwao Otuo suggested that apart from housing, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture could also put in place a scheme under which young farmers in rural areas could be supplied with wax prints, suiting materials, televisions sets and radio sets on high purchase basis periodically.

Nai Kwao Otuo said scholarships for the children of farmers could also be established at the district level to entice young men and women into farming.

He however advised farmers throughout the country to continue to give off their best by producing adequate food, industrial raw materials for home consumption and export.

Nai Kwao Otuo, who was the 1994 Second Best National Best Farmer, advised the farmers, especially food producers, not to allow the poor pricing of their produce to deter them from contributing their quota towards national goals.

He appealed to them to encourage their children to cultivate the love for farming to enable them take over from them.