New varieties of cassava, cocoyam developed

The West Africa Agriculture Productivity Programme (WAAPP) is to benefit 41 farmers in the Upper Manya Krobo District.

The initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is intended to introduce newly improved varieties of cassava and cocoyam to farmers in the district.

The STAR-Ghana/Ghana News Agency (GNA) Media Auditing and Tracking of Development Project team learned that the project is aimed at increasing the yields of cassava and cocoyam in the district.

The newly introduced cassava varieties are Ampong, Sika Bankye and Bankye Hemaa and the varieties for the cocoyam are Mayeyie, Akyedie and Gyemidi.

So far two multiplication fields, a two-acre plot at Asesewa and a 1.5-acre plot at Nyakumase have been developed for the production of planting materials for distribution to 41 farmers from two farmer based organizations on pilot basis.

Under the project, the beneficiary farmers would be trained in the cultivation of the new crops and would be assisted with fertilizers and other farm inputs.

After the initial beneficiary farmers, other farmers would also be trained for the expansion of the number of farmers involved in the project.

All the beneficiary farmers are also expected to reach out to other farmers in the district to introduce them to the new varieties.

Some farmers who spoke to the GNA Media Auditing and Tracking of Development Project Team expressed their appreciation for the project.