Nkoranza youth go into mango production

Domeabra (B/A) March 30, GNA - About 350 youth have been mobilized to form Nkoranza North Farmers Association to undertake mango production to help improve their economic activities and to enhance their livelihood. Nine philanthropists will assist members, who were mainly in maize production, to maintain their maize farms and inter-crop them with the mango plants.

Mr. Prince Ofosu Adjei, coordinator of the project who launched the

programme at Domeabra in Nkoranza North constituency said the farmers would be provided with inputs on credit basis and would pay back the cost after the harvesting of the produce. The project co-ordinator announced that about 1,500 persons had been earmarked for this year's project to ensure that a reasonable number of unemployed youth would take advantage of the project. Mr. Adjei added that 16 communities in the constituency had been selected for the project on pilot basis and would be extended to other communities in the near future.

The beneficiary communities are Asekye-Kunkese, Adoe, Pinihe, Sikaa, Kranka, Domeabra, Yefri, Bodom, Senya and Konkrompe. The others are Bonte, Bomiri, Boabeng, Fiema, Busunya and Dromankese.

Mr. Adjei advised beneficiary farmers to manage their farms well for increased productivity that should reflect in their living standards.

He called on the national youth council, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, financial institutions and donor organizations concerned with poverty alleviation to consider and support the project. Mr. Adjei said as part of incentive packages, management was negotiating for support to enable the beneficiaries to register with the district health insurance scheme.

Mr. Edmund Baffoe, secretary of the project said the supply of inputs to the farmers on credit would be a big relief to them as the availability of the facility was a big challenge to them. He said a monitoring and evaluation team had been formed to oversee the activities of the farmers so they would reap better yield to be able to repay their loans.

Mr. K. Nsowah, a beneficiary, expressed gratitude to the promoters of the project, saying he was hopeful to produce more maize than he used to do in the past.

He called on his colleagues to attach seriousness to the work to ensure the sustenance and success of the project. Meanwhile, the farmers have been assured of a ready market for their produce as the promoters have made the necessary contacts and negotiations with marketing companies.