Ministry on new technology for farming

Gomoa Potsin (Central Region) - The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has introduced a new farming technology known as "no till" in Gomoa District.

With the new technology, farm lands are prepared through the use of chemicals to control weeds without disturbing the soil. Francis Kwaku Nutakor, Gomoa District Director of Agriculture Announced this at the 18th National Farmers Day at Gomoa Potsin in the Central Region.

Nutakor said a pilot project established through the use of the new technology has proved very successful and urged farmers to adopt the new method to enhance sustainability of soil fertility and improve yield.

He said a crop farmer in the district has been selected for a national award because his farm operations were found to be highly scientific. He said over 1000 farmers are to be supplied with improve cassava sticks from Gomoa for planting next year to boost the president's special initiative (PSI) on cassava.

He said 25 selected farmers who were support3d by MOFA have cultivated 70 acres of the improved planting materials for supply to farmers to alleviate the problems they encounter before accessing the materials.

Nutakor said 55 other farmers in the district, who were supplied with the sticks, were also expected to harvest them for other farmers who needed them.

He said the Ministry, under its land and water management project is putting in some interventions to address declining soil fertility problems of the area to ensure that agriculture production is carried out in a sustainable manner.

According to him said the Ministry is collaborating with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) an NGO to support selected farmers groups to embark on agro-forestry and wood-lot farming.

He expressed concern about rampant bush fires in the district and also activities of Fulani herdsmen whose cattle destroy farm produce.

Miss Joyce Mildred Aidoo District Chief Executive announced that the Social Investment Fund (SIF) has approved 66 million cedis to a viable rice farmers group at Okyereko and 73.7 million cedis to a fish processing group at Mumford.

She also announced that the Village Infrastructure Project (VIP) has provided a rice mill and accessories to rice farmers groups at Gomoa Okyereko, to enable them to add value to their farm produce.

Miss Aidoo said the government was pursuing programmes and policies to diversity agriculture to make it sustainable in order to reduce rural-urban drift. Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, Member of Parliament for Gomoa West advised farmers, especially women to seek advice from agriculture extension officers to enable them to increase their produce.

She appealed to the District Assembly to support women farmers with the Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF). Fourteen farmers were presented with awards at the function, which was chaired by Obirifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II., Omanhene of Goma Akyempim.