Sunyani (B/A), Jan. 27, GNA- Mr J.J. Ayisi, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture at the weekend, lauded the interest of some students in agriculture, which he said would help develop sector and make more attractive.
Mr. Ayisi was speaking at the inauguration of the Sunyani Polytechnic branch of the General Agricultural Polytechnic Students Association in Sunyani.
He urged the students to concentrate on their studies and
practice on the field to help promote the agricultural sector. Mr. Ayisi gave the assurance that his outfit would
encourage and give the needed support to help the growth
and development of the association. Mr T.A. Kusi-Appiah, Head of Department of General
Agriculture of the Sunyani Polytechnic noted with concern the
poor condition of farmers and attributed it to bad farming
practices. "Brong-Ahafo region is endowed and blessed with
abundant natural resources but the lack of technical know
how is affecting food processing", he stressed. Mr Appiah also expressed his concern about the
misapplication of agro-chemicals and other pesticides,
stressing that, modern farming needs technology to enhance
productivity. Mr Mohammed Seidi, President of the association, said its
main aim was to encourage the youth to venture into
agriculture. He said the association intends to set up a training centre
to train the unemployed youth in agricultural ventures such as
grass cutter rearing, mushroom production and bee keeping
among others. Mr Seidi appealed to municipal and district assemblies in
the region to support the establishment of the training centre.