Floods destroy farms cultivated under Youth in Agriculture Programme

Otwekwaa (C/R), Aug 16, GNA - Eighty-five acres out of the 134 acres of farm land cultivated in Agona East under the Youth in Agriculture Programme have been destroyed by floods.

The remaining 49 acres had poor yields because the fertilizer applied on the maize a day before the heavy downpour was washed away.

Mr Emmanuel Amartefio, District Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), announced this when he led the District Chief Executive, Mr John Oremus Arko, and newsmen to inspect the farm at Otwekwaa.

Mr Arko described the incident as unfortunate and appealed to the youth not to allow it to dampen their spirit or discourage them from taking to the programme.

Mr Arko said those who embarked on the programme last year had a good yield which attracted more youths into the programme.

The DCE appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to come to the aid of the young farmers to sustain their interest in the programme.

Under the Youth in Agriculture Programme module created under the Youth Employment Programme, District Assemblies acquire and prepare land, whiles MOFA provides seed and fertilizer on credit for the youth to plant.

The youth farmers pay for the cost of the inputs in kind after harvesting their crops.