Agriculture Ministry offers assistance to roots and tuber farmers

Cape Coast, Sept. 9, GNA - The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has put in place a programme to assist farmers who cultivate root and tuber crops products such as cassava, sweet potatoes and yam. Dubbed "Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTIMP)" it does not only offer such farmers the opportunity to expand their farms with the supply of planting materials but also gives them grants to buy farm inputs.

The programme also assists processors of root and tuber crops with grants and loans to buy processing while it forms a link between the farmers, processors and buyers to ensure ready market at all times. Mr. Isaac Golokumah, the Cape Coast Desk Officer of RTIMP, who spoke at a stakeholders' forum in Cape Coast on Tuesday, said there was a bumper harvest of root and tuber crops during the first phase of the programme from 2000 to 2005.

He said during that period the programme did not focus on marketing and farmers and processors involved recorded low marketing of their products and were discouraged.

Mr. Golokumah said the second phase, which began in 2007, had placed emphasis on marketing and had formed a link between the farmer, processor and buyers and urged farmers to avail themselves of the opportunities under the programme to expand their businesses. He said so far 500 farmers had been supplied with improved varieties of roots and tubers such as yam, potatoes and cassava for planting and that the programme was targeting 600 farmers in the metropolis.

On the processors, he said apart from receiving grants under the programme, it also links them to banks for loans to enable them to buy processing machines.

He said food demonstration programmes would be organized where the processing of potatoes into yoghourt, pancake and doughnuts will be on display to the public for them to appreciate the usefulness of sweet potatoes while cassava flour, bread and other food products made with yam will also be showcased. Mr. Justice Amoah, the Planning Officer of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly, appealed to stakeholders to take advantage of the programme. 09-09-09