Farmers urged to save with the banks

Bosuso, Dec. 24, GNA - Farmers have been urged to form co-operatives and cultivate the habit of savings with the rural banks to enable them qualify for soft loans to expand their businesses. The project officer of Atiwa Rural Bank, Mr Douglas Kwaning made the call at the inauguration of the Bosuso Peace Farmers Association on Friday at Bosuso in the Fanteakwa District.

He said it was unfortunate that most farmers still reject the rural

banking idea and keep their money at home. Mr Kwaning assured the farmers of the preparedness of the banks to grant loans to co-operative farmers who save with them for at least six months.

The Chairman of the Peace Farmers Association, Mr Benjamin Atiemo, said apart from improving the lifestyle of the members, the association aimed at mobilizing the youth in the area to go into scientific agriculture and minimize the rural-urban migration in search of non-existents jobs.

He said the association has a membership of 315 members who cultivate cash crops, food crops and non-traditional export crops while a section of them undertake crab and fish farming. Mr. Atiemo said the association had planned to adopt the community library at Bosuso to help raise the standard of education of the pupils in the area.

The Founder of the Association and this year's District Best Agriculture extension Officer in Fanteakwa, Mr Festus Amoah, appealed to the Ministry of Interior to establish a police post in the town to ensure security of farm produce and also minimize decadence among the youth.