Nandom Assembly promoting dry season farming

The Nandom District Assembly is taking advantage of the availability of water in the Black Volta River to promoting dry season farming in the area.

The farmers, who were normally idle after harvesting their crops and consumed what they had produced for the year, were now counting their blessings with the Assembly’s dry season farming project.

The Assembly has purchased some heavy duty water pumping machines and equipment to support farmers to cultivate bambara beans, vegetables and maize to enhance their livelihoods.

The project is being implemented in communities along the Black Volta River including Ketuo, Gengenkpe, Naapaal, Sonne and Dabateng.

Mr. Cuthbert Baba Kuupiel, Nandom District Chief Executive, made this known at the “Nandom District Public Accountability Forum” held in Nandom on Friday.

He said it was the intention of the Assembly to extend the project to all communities along the Black Volta River, aimed at engaging the youth in food crop production to improve their income levels and health status.

Mr. Kuupiel said for communities that were not along the Black Volta River, the Assembly would rehabilitate some dugout at Gosiir, Takuu, Brutu, Zimuopare and Tuopare under the Ghana Social and Opportunities Project (GSOP).

Some feeder roads in those areas would also be rehabilitated to facilitate the movements of farm produce and people, goods and services.

It is the expectation of the Assembly that from now on, the youth would be encouraged to embrace the project to enhance agriculture activities, and improve their livelihoods and reduce migration.

The forum, which was the first of its kind in the district was to open the Assembly’s operations to the people and to solicit ideas, inputs, contributions and criticisms from all stakeholders for effective management of the Assembly.

Heads of Departments, Traditional Rulers, Development Partners, non-governmental organisations and a cross section of the public attended the forum.