Land degradation threatens Vision 2020

Tamale, March 29 GNA - Mr David Nyankamawu, Northern Regional Co-ordinating Director of Administration warned on Tuesday that the continuous degradation of the environment through bad farming practices could undermine the Vision 2020 programme.

He said farmlands are being degraded at an alarming rate, leading to crop losses and hunger, especially in the rural communities, a situation that, he said, would impact negatively on the programme.

Mr Nyankamawu was addressing the 12th annual review workshop of the Collaborative Community Forestry Initiative (CCFI) being implemented by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) with other stakeholders to promote agro-forestry.

He commended the CCFI project for training over 14,000 farmers, nation-wide in modern farming methods to conserve the environment. Mr George Baiden, Director of ADRA said the project has established 103 nurseries to promote community interest in tree growing.

The three-day workshop under the theme: "CCFI, challenges ahead in the new millennium", is being attended by 120 representatives from ADRA, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Forestry Department, Department of Co-operatives and the US Peace Corps from Greater Accra, Volta, Central, Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions.

They would discuss financial management, innovations in establishing tree nurseries and seedling production and distribution.