Western Region: TNMA Moves To Boost Agriculture

The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Chief Executive, Hon Gilbert Ken Asmah says his administration has put in place positive measures aimed at boosting further the agriculture enterprise as well as the fortunes of farmers within the Municipality.

He hinted that his administration has placed premium in the agriculture sector and that pragmatic steps have been effected to enhance growth in the sector, he noted.

It will further enhance Agric productivity and its rewards to farmers in 2019 and 2020.

Hon Kennedy Asmah revealed this on Friday, December 7, 2018 at Nsuaem at a durbar to marl this year's farmers day.

We also use the provided opportunity to highlight work aimed at improving the welfare of farmers,” he told the gathering.

This year's celebration is under the theme “Agriculture, Moving Ghana beyond aid”.

According to Hon Asmah, the theme was a true reflection of the premium placed on agriculture by the Nana Akufo-Addo led government and the critical role of the sector and sector players in Ghana’s ability to meet our beyond aid goal.

Undoubtedly 34% of the employed population are engaged in agriculture business, however, the agriculture output and its benefits to farmers had dwindled in recent years. He

further commended President Akufo-Addo for introducing the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative by the NPP government which has contributed to abundance of food nationwide.

He mentioned that his outfit has embarked on series of projects In 2017 the administration in

in the planting for food and jobs program, Planting for Export and Rural Development, PERD initiatives targeting 250,000 farmers, he added.

In the area of PERD, he outlined a number of projects such as the nursing and distribution of thousands of cocoa seedlings to farmers by the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly, TNMA, currently we are embarking on a rehabilitation exercise on a 90 acre coconut plantation at Bonsa, again an initial 5,960 Malayan Yellow Dwarf, (MYD), 5,640 Equitorian Guinea Dwarf, (EDG) breeds of coconut will be cultivated. Again we have nursed 11,600 coconut seedlings are ready for planting.

He observed, that in the area of supplying inputs including fertilizers and improved seeds and Agric extension officers to farmers, TNMA has performed marvelously in that regard, he said that the move is expected to yield a positive outcomes in 2019 and 2020, he mentioned.

The Tarkwa-Nsuaem MCE pointed out, that aside from the obvious approach of improving the agriculture production to increase yield, he would further build strong linkages between agro- produce and agro processing to increase incomes of the farmers. He noted that the Municipality had the potential for fishing farming and plans are far advanced for the exploitation of a food processing chain, he said.

In all, a retired educationists who doubles as the traditional ruler of Esuoso, Nana Kwesi Attobrah II was crowned the overall Municipal best farmer, in attendance were the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Hon George Mireku Duker, Mr. Isaac Kwakye, TNMA Coordinating Director, representatives of Goldfields Ghana Mines, Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Mines, NPP Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency Executives and Hon Assembly Members.