SADA urged to promote soybeans cultivation

Funsi (U/W), Jan. 4, GNA - A social worker has appealed to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) to consider assisting farmers in northern Ghana to adopt soybeans as a cash crop as it has the potential to reduce poverty in the area.

Mr. James Dumah, Coordinating Director of the Tumu Deanery Development Programme (TUDRIDEP), said since the introduction of the crop to the South Sissala area of the Upper West Region, incomes had improved for farmers in the area who adopted it for cultivation.

Mr. Dumah said this at a durbar organized by the Kyang-siya Youth Association at Funsi in the Wa East District at the weekend.

TUDRIDEP is a rural development organization within the Catholic Church and has, for several years, assisted small scale farmers in the Tumu and Funsi parishes of the church.

He said the increase in production levels and the incomes of the farmers in the area was influenced by the support given to the farmers by his organization through an arrangement where seeds are given to farmers for cultivation and the produce bought at the farm gate on cash basis.

With a ready market and the spot payment for the produce the farmers were encouraged to increase the level of production thereby increasing family incomes and reducing poverty.

Apart from introducing bullock farming and supply of farming implements, the organization also provides extension services to farmers in these communities.

GNA