The Upper East Region Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) is supervising the cultivation of 1,730 hectares of Nerika rice and 700 hectares of soyabeans by farmers in the region this cropping season.
The project, as part of Government's programme to enhance food security, is being undertaken at the oncho-free Fumbisi Valley, Naga and Tono in the region.
Alhaji Abdul Razak Zibim Salifu, Acting Regional Director of MoFA, told the Times in an interview that the project Is estimated to yield 4, 190 tonnes paddy, between two and three tonnes per hectare and about 2,100 tonnes of soyabeans.
Under the project, which will benefit between 3,000 and 4,000 farmer group in the region, government is providing fund for land preparation, seeds supply, fertiliser and harvesting.
MoFA will also provide sound agronomic services and supervise the activities of the farmers after which it will recover the cost and leave the reminder of the revenue for farmers.
The director said the region has been targeted for rice and soya bean production, because of its comparative advantage.
For upland rice production, 50 hectares will be cultivated at the Tamme valleys in the Garu-Tempane district, Wiesi and Kaadi in Bawku East and Tono/ Naga Valleys in Kassena Nankana district.
Another 30 hectares have been set aside for seed production to procure enough quality seed for expansion of the programme in subsequent years.
According to Alhaji Salifu, arrangements have been made to mill the paddy at the Nasia Rice Mills in Tamale and Kour in the Northern Region.
He said the region has embarked on large-scale production of soya bean to boost that sector because a number of factories in the country have been importing the commodity for industrial purposes, including oil extraction, animal and poultry feed.
The director said that the region selected the Nerika rice variety because it matures within 100-110 days and can survive the erratic and terminal drought in the region.
He is hopeful that crop yield in the region this season will be good since the rains came early, coupled with sound agronomic practices.
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