DCE pleads with chiefs to release land for farming

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Afigya-Kwabre, Mr. Kwaku Oppong-Kyekyeku Kaakyire, has appealed to chiefs and other land owners to make it easier for people eager to go into agriculture to have access to land.

The process of land acquisition must be made simple and less stressful to encourage, particularly the youth, into farming.

He was speaking at a farmers’ day celebration held at Kyekyewere to present prize awards to 20 selected farmers for outstanding contribution to the development of agriculture in the area.

Mr. Emmanuel Ahiati, 43, from Tetrem, won the ultimate and received a table top refrigerator, flat screen television (TV), knap-sack spraying machine, wellington boots, wax print, cutlasses and agro-chemicals.

The others took home various items including bundles of roofing sheets, TV sets, bicycles, wax print, and agricultural inputs.

“Transform Ghana: Invest in agriculture” was the theme chosen for this year’s event.

Mr. Oppong-Kyekyeku applauded farmers for their invaluable contribution to the economy and said the government would pursue policy measures that would transform the lives of the rural farmer.

These include improving cocoa roads to facilitate the evacuation of cocoa and other farm produce, supply of potable water, electricity and construction healthcare infrastructure.

He asked farmers to move away from traditional agricultural practices and adopt improved technology to scale up production and returns.

He announced the establishment of rice demonstration fields at Kyekyewere, Tetrem and Mposu/Ankaase by the assembly in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) to train farmers in rice production.

Additionally, two plant clinics had been opened to assist farmers to deal with pest and disease attack on their farms.

Madam Felicia Akowuah, the District Director of Agriculture, urged them to go into the production non-traditional and exotic vegetables – carrots, chili pepper, cabbage and others.