Rehabilitate Diawuoso-Ayease road - plead farmers

Obuasi, Dec. 7, GNA - Continued deterioration of the feeder road linking Diawuoso, Ayease and Jimiso-Kakabra, major cassava producing communities in the Obuasi Municipality, has become a major source of worry to farmers there.

Ms Felicia Appiah-Nuamah, Assembly Member for the area, said the bad nature of the road was creating marketing problems for the farmers and impoverishing the people.

Drivers, who ply it, are also taking advantage of the situation, to charge exorbitant fares to maximize profit. Ms Appiah-Nuamah said: "It is common to see farmers trekking with their food crops on their heads to Obuasi to sell."

This was at the Farmers' Day celebration held to honour hard working farmers in the area.

In all, 30 individuals and organizations were honoured for their contribution to the promotion of agriculture in the municipality. Mr Mohammed Awal from Asonkore was adjudged the overall best farmer for the year.

Ms Appiah-Nuamah said: "It is my fervent appeal to the assembly, the department of feeder roads and the government to put this road into good shape to improve food production in the area." Nana Samuel Edmundson, Krontihene of Diawuoso, appealed for the establishment of a gari-processing plant in the town to help the farmers expand their farm.

"The people in this area are serious cassava farmers and such a plant will encourage them to expand their farms to improve food security," he added.

He suggested to agriculture extension workers to organize periodic workshops on the correct application of agro-chemicals for farmers to ensure the safety of consumers.