Sissala Union assists farmers with improved maize seeds

As part of its efforts to help increase food production, the Sissala Union has distributed improved maize seed varieties to farmers in selected communities in the Sissala East and Sissala West Districts in Upper West Region.

It is under its “Seed for Life project”.

The Abontem, Aburohemaa and Omankwa seed maize varieties, which are products of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and are found to contain more protein and tolerant to drought and striga had been supplied to farmers in Tumu, Sakai, Wellembelle and Gwollu to cultivate about 100 acres of the crop.

It cost the Union GH¢800 to purchase the seeds, which the farmers would cultivate this year and harvest next year and sell to farmers at less prices.

This will enable all maize farmers to have access to improved seeds.

Dr Roger Adamu Lure Kanton, President of the Sissala Union, said the gesture was aimed at introducing improved “Drought Tolerant Maize Varieties for Africa” (DTMA) to the Sissala area to support farmers increase maize production.

He said the Union was collaborating with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to teach farmers to improve agronomic production that goes with the varieties to improve on maize production to secure food security and increase income levels of the people.

It would help improve the health status of farmers and enable them to raise money to pay for their children’s education and manage other social commitments appropriately.

Dr Kanton who is also a Principal Research Scientist in charge of the Manga Agricultural Research Station in the Upper East Region, said last year, the Union supplied maize, cowpea and onion seeds to some farmers.

This led to good responses from the farmers hence the need for more improved seeds.

He said the two Sissala districts are dominating in maize production in the region and needed more support from government and other non-governmental organisations to make the area food sufficient.

The Union’s President gave the assurance that improved varieties of seed rice would also be supplied to rice farmers in the two districts this year.

Dr Kanton said the Union would organise vacation classes for junior and senior high students in the area during the long holidays.

The four weeks classes would concentrate on three subject areas: Science, English and Mathematics and appealed to the students to patronise it free of charge.

Dr Kanton appealed to the government to establish more secondary/technical schools in the Sissala area.

He said the Union would raise funds to organise Dr Hilla Limann and Alhaji Imoro Egala’s memorial lectures this year.

He therefore appealed to all Sissalas within and outside Ghana and public- spirited individuals and organisations to support the lectures.

Dr Limann was the President of the Third Republic under the defunct Peoples National Party, whilst Alhaji Egala was the National Chairman of the party.**