East Akim MCE calls for facilities to promote rice production

Tontro (E/R), Dec. 8, GNA-The East Akim Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Peter Asilfi has called for the Municipality's share of equipment on offer by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to help sustain rice production in the area.

He also directed Municipal Director of Agriculture to ensure that storage facilities were provided at vantage places in the rice producing areas for rice farmers to store their harvest.

Mr. Asilfi gave the directive when he got to know that best rice farmer in his Municipality was among the award winners at the District Farmers Day celebrations held at Tontro near New Tafo

In all, 20 farmers, groups and religious organizations were presented with awards for their performance with the overall Municipal Best Farmer award won by a 28 year old technician.

Mr. Sampson Abayateye, who is single, went into farming after his technical education.

Mr. Asilfi appealed to farmers who benefit from credit facilities to pay them to enable others to also benefit.

He urged the farmers to work closely with the staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to know the projects and programmes which would be rolled out by the government to take advantage of them.

The East Akim Municipal Director of Agriculture, Mr. Phanuel Ababio-Danso said this year, farmers in the Municipality bought 1500 bags of fertilizer to enhance their yields.

According to him, 250 farmers participated in Farmers Field School, a concept which was used to transfer new technologies in farming in the Municipality.

He appealed to financial institutions in the Municipality to support individuals and groups involved in food processing and preservation to help reduce post harvest looses in the Municipality.

Mr. Ababio-Danso expressed his appreciation of the fact that the overall best Regional Farmer, in the person of Prophet Abraham Adusei of Osiem was from the Municipality.

Nana Adusei Peasah, Tafohene, who chaired the function, assured that he and his elders were ready to offer land for the cultivation of rice to interested farmers to support the national rice cultivation programme.

GNA