Don’t accept Fulani herdsmen – DCE to chiefs

The Nkwanta-North District Chief Executive (DCE), Martin Kudor has called on all traditional rulers in the area not to accept Fulani herdsmen in their respective communities any longer.

This is because when they invaded their farms last year, the District Security Council (DISEC) spent huge sums of money before they were able to drive them away from the District, he said stressing, therefore, that the Assembly would not tolerate the herdsmen in the area, especially through the support of traditional leaders.

Mr. Kudor pointed out that the main occupation of the people in the area is farming; therefore, the presence of the Fulani herdsmen was regarded by the Assembly as an attack on the economic life of the people.

He urged the traditional rulers to complement the development efforts of the Assembly by volunteering information to his outfit anytime they saw Fulani herdsmen in any part of the District.

The DCE who gave the directive at this year’s District Farmers Day celebration at Damanko in the Nkwanta-North District pointed out that the government through the District Assembly was playing its role to ensure that agriculture was made more attractive and profitable to the people.

Mr. Kudor, therefore, hinted that any external force like Fulani herdsmen whose intentions were to allow their animals to feed on the crops of the farmers would be fiercely resisted.

He continued that government recognizes the agricultural sector as the engine of growth of the economy and, therefore, all assistance were being given to farmers to improve upon their activities.

The Nkwanta-North DCE stressed that government’s intention was to make agriculture very attractive to the people and to ensure that it provides more jobs for the youth since the sector has the potential to reduce unemployment.

Continuing, Mr. Kudor said the agricultural sector has the potential of transforming the nation to an appreciable level and that government was committed to providing farm implements and input to aid activities of farmers, as well as empower them by granting them loans.

He consequently cautioned the farmers against the use of loans meant for agricultural activities and other businesses that would not be profitable enough to enable them pay back such loans.

Explaining further, Mr. Kudor stressed the need for the youth who are interested to venture into agriculture to form groups to enable them benefit from such loans, noting that the youth could go into cashew farming.

According to him, cashew farming is a new area that farmers should venture into since there is ready market for it, saying this should motivate them to embark on commercial production of cashew to serve as major income generation for them.

Mr. Kudor also advised the people against bush burning particularly around this time when the nation was entering into the dry season, saying the effects of bush fire was devastating because bush burning would not only destroy farmland, but also destroy lives and properties.

The Chief of Damanko, Obor Sampson Nboribe noted that the use of cutlass and hoe as an ancient method of farming was not enough to attract the youth to take up agriculture as a business.

He therefore appealed to the government to help farmers with tractor services that would enable them to embark on commercial farming as well as attract the youth into the business.

The Damanko chief continued that the situation where farmers were limited to seasonal farming practices was not the best and urged government to use the Oti River and the Volta Lake for irrigation that would ensure that farmers could embark on all year farming activities.

He said land in the Nkwanta-North District is fertile for vegetable production too, which he said would help ensure all year vegetable production for improved income generation for farmers.

Obor Sampson Nboribe lauded government constructing the eastern corridor road and urged it to speed up work on the stretch and also to ensure that other feeder roads in the area were equally constructed to ensure easy transportation of farm produce to the market areas.

The Nkwanta-North District identified 16 farmers who distinguished themselves and were awarded for their commitment to work in the various departments of agriculture.

52 year old man Mukaila Talah was adjudged the overall Best District Farmer. He cultivated 52 acres of yam, 53 acres of maize, 52 acres of rice and 52 acres of beans.

He received a corn mill, spraying machine and wellington boots, while others also took home, bicycles, cutlasses, hoe, spraying machines and pieces of clothe.