Mr. Abdus Sallam-Suali, Director of Agriculture for the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba district, has expressed concern about the increasing bush burning, felling of trees and the destruction of food crops by cattle in the area.
He said these activities were inimical to gains in agriculture and urged the people to stop such practices.
Mr Sallam-Suali said the country’s food basket could have been bigger to improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) situation if such negative practices were checked.
He was addressing the 28th Farmer’s Day celebration at Gindabour, a predominantly farming community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District last Friday.
The District Best Farmer Mr. Domopor Tachie took home a tricycle motor, a pair of Wellington boot, cutlasses and a certificate of honour. The first runner-up John Mulnye took home a motor bike, a pair of Wellington boot, cutlasses and a certificate.
Mr. Sallam-Suali appealed to stakeholders not to renege on their duties to protect the environment and agricultural lands for the growth of the sector.
Mr. Mumuni Isaac Dramani, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba underscored the need for farmers to see farming not only as a means of survival but also as a lucrative business where they could invest heavily to maximize returns.
Mr. Donald Dari, Member of Parliament for the area also urged the youth to see agriculture as a lucrative venture to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.
The Chief of Gindabour, Gindabourwura Adamu Siedu, noted that the farmers’ day award had helped in attracting the youth into farming.