TNMA promises further boost to Agriculture

The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Chief Executive, Hon Gilbert Ken Asmah says his administration has put in place positive measures aimed at boosting further the agriculture enterprise as well as the fortunes of farmers within the Municipality.

He hinted that his administration has placed premium in the agriculture sector and that pragmatic steps have been affected to enhance growth in the sector, he noted.

It will further enhance Agric productivity and its rewards to farmers in the coming years.

Hon Kennedy Asmah revealed this on Friday, December 7, 2018, at Nsuaem at a durbar to mark this year's farmers day.

We will also use the provided opportunities to improve the welfare of farmers,” he told the gathering.

This year's celebration is under the theme“ Agriculture, Moving Ghana beyond aid”.

According to Hon Asmah, the theme was a true reflection of the premium placed on agriculture by the Nana Akufo-Addo led government and the critical role of the sector and sector players in Ghana’s ability to meet our beyond aid goal.

Undoubtedly 34% of the employed population is engaged in agriculture business, however, the agriculture output and its benefits to farmers had dwindled in recent years.

He acknowledges the efforts made by farmers in all and urged the youth to endeavour into the farming business.

He mentioned that his outfit has embarked on series of projects in the coming years with regards to the planting for food and jobs program, Planting for Export and Rural Development, PERD initiatives targeting thousands of farmers, he added.

In the area of PERD, he outlined a number of projects such as the nursing and distribution of thousands of cocoa seedlings to farmers by the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly, TNMA, currently we are embarking on a rehabilitation exercise on a 90 acre coconut seed garden at Bonsa, again an initial 5,960 Malayan Yellow Dwar, (MYD), 5,640 Equitorian Guinea Dwarf, (EDG) breeds of coconut will be cultivated. Again we have nursed 11,600 coconut seedlings a ready for planting.

He observed, that in the area of supplying farm inputs including fertilizers and improved seeds, TNMA has performed marvellously in that regard.

The Tarkwa-Nsuaem MCE pointed out, that aside from the obvious approach of improving the agriculture production to increase yield, he would further build strong linkages between agro-produce and agro-processing to increase incomes of the farmers. The agenda of innovative and mechanised agriculture must be our focus, to wit we must direct our attention from the usual production based to a business-oriented agriculture, a move he believes was the surest way to enhance value chain advancement.

He noted that the Municipality had the potential for fishing farming and plans are far advanced for the exploitation of avenues to commercialise that sector, he said.

The Member of Parliament, Hon George Mireku Duker in his submission commended the gallant farmers for their tireless contributions to the development of the nation. "Government shall continue to equip farmers to sustain and enhance growth in their work" He revealed that farming was not an easy venture, however it remained a vocation with enormous prospects for the teeming youth considering modern technologies attached to farming in recent times, he noted.

In all, a retired educationists who doubles as the traditional ruler of Esuoso, Nana Kwesi Attobrah was crowned the overall Municipal best farmer, in attendance were the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Hon George Mireku Duker, Mr. Isaac Kwakye, TNMA Coordinating Director, representatives of Goldfields Ghana Mines, Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem Mines, Goldfields Ghana Limited, NPP Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency Executives and Hon Assembly Members.