CCTC and ICOUR signs agreement

Accra, July 21, GNA - The Irrigation Company of the Upper Region (ICOUR) has received 300 million cedis for the purchase of agriculture inputs to be supplied to rice farmers working on the company's project, to step up production.

The Continental Commodity Trading Company (CCTC) Ghana Limited, a local commodity dealing firm, made the money available, under a deal in which ICOUR would boost its production capacity.

The Company, is expected to supply 2,000 tonnes of locally produced rice to CCTC for processing and marketing by January 2004.

An agreement to that effect was signed between Mr Thomas Sombo, Deputy Managing Director of ICOUR and Mr Nabil Moukarzel, Managing Director of CCTC in Accra on Monday.

Mr Moukarzel said his company's effort was aimed at giving meaning to initiatives by the government to increase rice production and to reduce importation of the crop.

He said by guaranteeing a ready market for the produce, the company was demonstrating commitment for the promotion of locally produced rice and to support farmers to improve their income levels.

Mr Moukarzel said the company's decision to mill rice from ICOUR at the Nasia Mill is a further demonstration of its commitment to ensuring that productive operations in the area were kept running.

He said the company was considering channelling such resources for support through the Agricultural Development Bank in the long-term. Mr Moukarzel urged other stakeholders in rice production to work hard to so that the government could cut down on rice importation. Mr Sombo said the money would enable ICOUR to cultivate about 1,000 hectares this year, 200 hectares more than land cultivated last year. He said the amount would complement Agricultural Development Bank's assistance through the farmers' nucleus out growers' scheme to ICOUR. Mr Sombo called for government support, especially in the provision of inputs to enable farmers increase their yield and income.

He said the move by CCTC to purchase locally produced rice would solve the problem of marketing thereby motivating the farmers to increase production.

Over 6,000 farmers are currently engaged on the ICOUR project in Vea and Tono.