NERICA Rice variety gains popularity among farmers

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A total of 4,000 farmers in the Hohoe Municipal area are expected to cultivate 800 hectares of the high-yielding-drought-resistant New Rice for Africa (NERICA 1/2) variety this year.

Mr Geoffrey Honu, Hohoe Municipal Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), told the Ghana News Agency on Friday.

He said the Directorate has 66,743 kilograms of the rice seeds in stock for sale to interested farmers in and outside the Hohoe Municipal area.

Mr Honu said NERICA 1/2, which has a high nutritional value and gaining popularity among farmers could be cultivated on upland areas.

He said 10 farmer-based organizations grouping 910 farmers have been identified to benefit from the Millennium Development Project in the Municipal area.

Mr Honu said Fodome-Ahor to Liati-Soba and Aveti to Logba-Alakpeti roads are to be constructed and reshaped under the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).

He said 1,000 farmers have benefited from the Livestock Development Project (LDP), which focuses on improved technology dissemination and promotion of animal health.
Mr Honu said 1,650 small ruminants, 851 cattle, 30 dogs and over 10,000 local poultry were vaccinated against pepit du ruminant (PPD), Contagious Bovine Pleuro-Pneuamonia (CBPP), anti-rabies, anthrax and Newcastle disease under the Directorate's disease surveillance programme.