Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly assists farmers

Bolgatanga, May 28, GNA - Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly supported 868 farmers to undertake dry season farming last year to ensure adequate food supply after the August/September 2007 floods. The farmers were given financial assistance and farm inputs to cultivate 150 hectares of tomatoes, three hectares of onion, six hectares of pepper, four hectares of okro and leafy vegetables and 30 hectares of rice.

They were provided with technical assistance by Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and used water from dams and rivers for irrigation. Mr Isaac Nsoh Amoah, Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive announced this when presenting a report on the assembly's performance during the Upper Easr Regional People's Assembly in Bolgatanga. Some of the farmers also cultivated seven hectares of maize and sold out fresh maize in Bolgatanga last March and April which is a rare occurrence.

Mr Amoah said the produce did not only boost the food security needs of the people but also provided income for other needs of their households.

For the present major farming season, he said MOFA was collaborating with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) to assist farmers with seeds for sowing and grain for food.

Mr Amoah said 40 livestock farmers were trained on genetic and environmental improvement while 300 others received training on savings mobilization, loan recovery and management. Forty others were trained to use urea to effectively treat crop residue that could be used as manure.

On education, Mr Amoah said the assembly in collaboration with other development partners was engaged in the provision of infrastructure such as classrooms, teachers' quarters and provision of furniture to enhance teaching and learning in the area Twenty communities that are benefiting have either a new classroom block or teachers' quarters with a KVIP, urinal, offices and stores. The assembly was also sponsoring 150 students in Teacher Training Colleges as well as students with disabilities in special schools in various institutions in the country. To improve sanitation within the municipality, the assembly constructed latrines in six communities, a 12 seat vault chamber toilet in two communities and rehabilitated refuse containers at various places in the municipality. Mr Amoah said loans were also disbursed to various groups to improve their businesses and urged the beneficiaries to pay back in good time so that others could benefit.