Women encouraged to invest in farming as a business

Bolgatanga, July 6, GNA - The 2008 National second best farmer, Madam Janet Nyabase, has urged women to invest in farming as a business and not only engage in it to feed the family. She said farming needed careful planning, dedication and capital, which many women were capable of and so they did not have to see large scale farming as a preserve of men alone.

"If you can farm and do other businesses to support the family, you can with a little more effort and commitment invest more into agriculture."

Madam Nyabase said this when she paid a courtesy call on the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo at the weekend in Bolgatanga. She said it was time Ghanaian farmers took to modern scientific farming practices and appealed to those in rural communities to adhere to the advice and guidance of agricultural extension officers so as to improve production.

Mr Woyongo said he was optimistic that the income levels of farmers would improve by 2011 as the government had started various programmes to boost agricultural production.

He noted that a lot of resources would be invested in the rehabilitation and construction of dams, roads, health infrastructure and subsidies on fertilizer and other farm inputs under the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).

Meanwhile, the on-going Northern Rural Growth Programme would boost Agricultural production and help reduce poverty in the three Northern Regions, the Minister said. He urged Madam Nyabase to work harder and be a role model to other women entrepreneurs. 6 July 09