Farm machinery to boost agricultural production in U/W Region

Wa, June 8, GNA - Mr. Sahanun Mogtari, Upper West Regional Minister has inaugurated a 13-member farm machinery allocation committee to ensure fair and equitable distribution of the region's share of two hundred tractors imported by the government to boost agricultural production.

The committee, under the chairmanship of the Regional Minister, is to vet and approve applications from prospective buyers for allocation of the region's allocation of twenty tractors. The committee includes the Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Joseph Faalong, the Wa branch Manager of the Agricultural Development Bank, the five district directors of agriculture and a woman representing the interest of women farmers. It will among other duties, receive applications from interested persons or groups, pursue and recover all loans and other forms of support given out to beneficiaries.

Mr. Mogtari urged the committee to develop the spirit of teamwork and discharge the task assigned it with all fairness, honesty, transparency and objectivity.

Mr Faalong said persons whose applications for the tractors would be approved would be required to make a mandatory payment of half the cost through an account with the Agricultural Development Bank. He said until the full payment of the 170 million cedis, within a period of three years, the tractor would remain jointly and severally the property of the bank, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the beneficiary.