MCE calls for more support to promote rice production

Tontro (E/R), Dec. 7, GNA - The East Akim Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Peter Asilfi, has directed the Municipal Director of Agriculture to ensure that the Municipality benefits from the equipment being supplied by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to help sustain rice production in the area.

He also asked him to ensure that storage facilities were provided at vantage places in the rice producing areas in the Municipality so that rice farmers could have better places to store their harvest.

Mr Asilfi said this to encourage rice cultivation after he had learnt that that the best rice farmer in the District came from the Municipality= .. In all, 20 farmers, groups and religious organizations were present= ed with awards for their performance. The overall Municipal Best Farmer went= to a 28-year-old technician, Mr Sampson Abayateye. Mr Asilfi appealed to farmers, who benefit from credit facilities t= o pay them to enable others to also benefit from the facility. He urged farmers to work closely with the staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to take advantage of projects and programmes to be rolled out by the government. The East Akim Municipal Director of Agriculture, Mr Phanuel Ababio-Danso said 250 farmers participated in this year's Farmers Field School concept, which was used to transfer new technologies in farming ot= her farmers.

He appealed to financial institutions in the Municipality to suppor= t individuals and groups involved in food processing and preservation to he= lp reduce post harvest looses in the Municipality. Mr Ababio-Danso was happy that the overall best Regional Farmer, Prophet Abraham Adusei of Osiem, hails from the Municipality. Nana Adusei Peasah, Tafohene, who chaired the function, said he was=

ready to offer land for the cultivation of rice to interested farmers. 7 Dec. 09