Regional Minister urges farmers to repay loans

Upper Bobikuma (C/R), Dec. 11, GNA - The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, has appealed to farmers to repay loans given them by the government to enable others to benefit.

He said over six billion cedis are locked up with farmers and described the situation as "worrying". Nana Ato Arthur said this at the 23rd Central Region Farmers' day celebration at Upper Bobikuma in the Agona District where over 100 farmers and fishermen were honoured. He said despite this problem the government would continue to assist farmers to produce more to feed the nation and had released 45 billion cedis under the Micro, Small Loans and Credit (MASLOC) to support farmers. Nana Ato Arthur said government was making every effort to make agriculture attractive to the youth under the Youth in Agriculture Programme.

He said 1,294 youth have been engaged under the programme in the Central Region and expressed the hope that more youth would join. The minister said government has secured 17 million dollars loan facility for the second phases of the root and tuber improvement and marketing programme.

The programme seeks to help farmers market and add value to sweet potatoes, yams and cassava. On fishing, the regional minister said the industry has received its fair share of government support. Dredging of the Elmina Benya Lagoon is on going, a plan for the fishing harbour at Elmina is ready and work on the project will start commence in March 2008 he said. Other landing sites would be constructed at Senya Beraku, Gomoa Fetteh, Apam, Mumford and Moree to boost the fishing industry in the region.