Over 200 Dormaa farmers set to thrive under Nkokonkenkete initiative

Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the Bono Regional Minister, has said that Dormaa Central, Dormaa East, and Dormaa West districts have been selected in the region to pilot the ‘Nkokonketenkete’ project aimed at strengthening and increasing poultry production and reducing imports.

According to the minister, the government Under the project will supply farmers with four-week-old birds to raise and sell.

The Minister made this known during this year's National Farmers Day held in the Region at Amasu in the Dormaa Municipality. Over 200 farmers, he said, will be supported annually in every constituency.

He added that Veterinary and animal health services were being enhanced, reducing disease outbreaks through improved surveillance and vaccination coverage.

He assured that the region takes pride in Dormaa Ahenkro being a poultry hub, and continues to lead in livestock production, and as a driver of the local economic development.

In the Agriculture sector, the Minister said the region was making great strides and would continue to lead in agricultural development.

“Per available statistics, we remain one of the top producers of maize,

cashew, plantain, eggs, and poultry in the country. Under the 2025 district agricultural performance review, Bono Region achieved a 12% increase in maize yields and 9% growth in rice production due to improved seed distribution and extension services”, he said.

He noted that the youth in the region were responding positively to the call for youth in agriculture.

In an effort to promote youth in agriculture, the Minister said the Mahama-led government has reintroduced School Farms at all levels of education.

The purpose is to inculcate the passion of farming in the youth and change their misconception about the ecosystem of agriculture.

In this regard, a total number of 42 educational Institutions across the region have been involved, including 2 Colleges of Education, 21 Senior High Schools, 3 Vocational/Technical Schools, 8 Junior High Schools, and 7 Basic Schools.

Each institution will be provided with inputs to cultivate maize, vegetables, and livestock for their own consumption.

Accordingly, a total number of fertilisers has been received for distribution to these schools for the next year's farming season.

Istiqamah SHS at Wenchi was adjudged the Best SHS in Practical Agriculture. This is sad, to motivate them to continue in such commendable efforts and encourage others to follow.

Touching on government policy on the Agriculture sector, the Minister said the government has established Farmer Service Centres for extension service delivery. These are areas where farmers will access extension services and receive supplies for inputs.

“I wish to put on record that out of 50 piloted service centres nationwide, the Bono region had 3 to be situated at Wenchi, Sampa, and Wamfie," he said

On this year's 41st National Farmers ' Day theme, “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana and Secure the Future”, the Minister called on Ghanaians to recommit to eating food produced in Ghana to promote and prioritise local food consumption, such as rice, maize, plantain, yams, cashew, vegetables, and poultry.

"Increased local consumption stimulates production, strengthens value chains, and protects the cedi. A strong taste for consuming foreign foods injects large sums of money into the home economies of such imports to the disadvantage of our own economy, he noted.

On Agriculture modernisation, Akwaboa said it was imperative for farmers to embrace modern technology and scale down the traditional practices of farming to increase production to meet local consumption and for export.

"Embracing Modern Technology includes the use of drones for spraying, digital extension platforms, and climate-smart practices. These are no longer optional but essential for sustaining productivity, he advised.

The Bono Minister also called for the collective pursuit of youth participation in the agriculture agenda and assured them of the government's willingness to continue to support young farmers through training, access to land, mechanisation, and agribusiness financing.

He stressed that this would strengthen partnerships and collaboration between government, private investors, farmer groups, traditional authorities, and development partners to scale up innovations and investments in agriculture for the holistic development of the agriculture sector.

The Minister noted that the Bono region remains Ghana’s leading cashew producer, contributing nearly 45% of national output. And to improve tree crop production, the government has rolled out “Boosting the Tree Crop

Sector” initiative to enhance tree crop production.

Accordingly, the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA) continues to provide support for cashew, mango, coconut, and shea value chains.