BUSAC FUND OFFERS ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS (D/G Saturday October 18, 2008. PAGE 22)

THE Tono Small-Scale Farmers Association has received assistance from the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund to undertake a programme that would help members to access and make timely repayment of loans.
The nine-month programme was facilitated by the Industrial Relations Officer (IRO) of the General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) in the Kassena-Nankana District, Mr Hippolyte Alua, and other service providers.
The BUSAC Fund, sponsored by the Danish International Development Agency, the UK's Department for International Development and the United States Agency for International Development, aims at strengthening capacity of organisations in the private sector to advocate pro-business sector reform in Ghana, and in the long-run, support the Ghanaian economy and contribute to poverty reduction.
The Chairman of the Tono Small-Scale Farmers Association, Mr Stephen Kampeh, made this known to the Daily Graphic at Navrongo in the Kassena Nankana District after a meeting of the executive of the association.
He said under the GH¢10,515 contract, the farmers provided 10 per cent, while BUSAC provided the remaining 90 per cent contractual support.
Mr Kampeh explained that the farmers consulted the Industrial Relations Officer (IRO) of GAWU to develop a proposal to source the funds on their behalf after they encountered a problem with their bankers, the Naara Rural Bank.
Consequently, he said, the IRO drafted the proposal and wrote the application, which was duly accepted by BUSAC.
He noted that as a result of the training programme, the farmers were now kept abreast of banking procedures and were better equipped on how to assess and ensure timely payment of loans.
Mr Kampeh said as a result of the training, the association had re-established relations with the bank, which was prepared to assist the farmers with loans to enhance their activities.
He appealed to the Regional the Co-ordinating Council and the management of Irrigation Company in the Upper East Region to ensure effective monitoring of rehabilitation works at the Tono Irrigation Dam site to ensure its early completion.
Mr Kampeh said while they were happy with the ongoing rehabilitation works at the Tono Irrigation Dam site, they were dissatisfied with the progress of work.
He, therefore, called for effective monitoring towards the early completion of the project to boost farming in the area and help improve on the lives of the people.
On behalf of the members of the association, Mr Kampeh stressed the need for the government to review the fertiliser coupon system, adding that the system was being abused by some suppliers.
He further implored the government to subsidise the price of fertiliser and also make it available on the open market throughout the country.
The IRO of GAWU, Mr Hippolyte Alua, told the Daily Graphic that members of the association obtained loans from the Naara Rural Bank, but after sometime, the local farmers experienced some difficulties in terms of repayment.
A Technical Officer of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr Martin Pwayidi, urged the farmers to use whatever financial assistance they obtained wisely to avoid embarrassment in the future.