Farmers embrace INTAPIMP project

Nayoku(N/R), Aug 20, GNA - Some farmers in communities where the Integrated Agricultural Productivity Improvement and Marketing Project (INTAPIMP) is being implemented in the West Mamprusi District have embraced the project and are applying organic manure on their fields.

The application of the organic manure has enabled new crop varieties to mature early as well as ensuring improved yields leading to high income for the farmers.

INTAPIMP is a three-year project being implemented by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Ghana, in 10 districts in the Northern Region including West Mamprusi, Central Gonja, West Gonja, Bole, Mion, Zabzugu, Tatale-Sangule, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba and Yendi Municipality.

The overall goal of the project, which ends in September this year, is to contribute to poverty reduction in the Region.

The project is being sponsored by the Danish International Development Agency through the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa and about 11,404 rice, soybean, groundnut and maize farmers have been trained in good agronomic practices, linked to agro-input dealers, tractor service providers, buyers, processors and other crop value chain actors to ensure the success of the project.

Mr Isaac Kankam-Boadu, Project Manager of ADRA Ghana, accompanied by some project partners, who interacted with some project beneficiaries (farmers) to assess its (project) impact and performance on the beneficiaries at Nayoku, Tianoba, Bugyapala and Bugyakura in the West Mamprusi District, commended them for using organic manure on their farms.

He urged farmers to keep to the good agronomic practices taught them under the project to improve their productivity as well as income so as to reduce poverty in the Region.

Mr Sumani Kantonga, a beneficiary of the project under the Farmer Based Organisation (FBO) 'Suguru Nye Buobu' at Nayoku expressed gratitude to ADRA Ghana for educating and training them on the importance of planting in rows and use of organic manure, which had led to increased yields.

He added that through the training they received from ADRA Ghana, his community had made contributions from their group farm which, they used to purchase a tricycle used for transporting farm produce, patients and pregnant women in labour to the hospital.

Madam Aduayiri Christiana, another beneficiary said initially she did not own a farm but after the training, she got into farming and had been able to enroll her children in school.

Mr Seidu Katonga, a beneficiary from the 'Suhiyini' FBO at Bugyakura, who used to walk to his farm, said through the project, he had been able to make some income from his farm and had bought a bicycle to facilitate his movement to and from the farm.

GNA