Disaster volunteer groups get support to undertake farming

Nkoranza (B/A), May 14, GNA - The Nkoranza District Secretariat of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is assisting five disaster volunteer groups to enable them to undertake large-scale agricultural ventures.

The organisation is providing the volunteers and farmers with inputs including maize seed and fertilizers on credit to help them to obtain better yields.

Mr Alfred Atta-Yeboah, Acting District NADMO Coordinator told the Ghana News Agency at Nkoranza that the organisation was also bearing the cost of clearing and ploughing of farm lands for the volunteers. He said the volunteers would only be required to pay back the cost of the inputs after harvesting their crops. The Coordinator noted that the support would motivate the volunteers to show greater commitment and concern for disaster management.

Mr Atta-Yeboah explained that the offer of the credit facility was to help create employment for the youth, who often refused to undertake farming due to the lack of financial support and also to encourage them to develop interest in farming. The NADMO Coordinator announced that an average piece of land of about 50 hectares of maize was expected to be cultivated this farming season by the five disaster volunteer groups. They are located at Akuma, Nkwabeng, Dromankese, Akonkonti and Kranka and that each group was made up of about 20 members. Mr Atta-Yeboah said the groups had already cultivated their crops, which had started flourishing. He advised them to manage the farms properly for bumper harvest to be able to pay back loans, labour and other costs and make some income for themselves to improve their socio-economic well-being.