Kassena-Nankana East honours 18 farmers

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Gia The Kassena Nankana East Municipal Director of Agriculture, Mr. Adamu Seidu Vasco has identified the shortage of staff in departments as a major hindrance affecting agriculture services delivery in the area. He said dwindling staff strength due to retirement and death of staff without corresponding replacement affects efforts by extension officers to reach farmers to answer their queries and help in facilitating increased income, food security and reduced poverty in the municipality. Mr. Adamu Seidu Vasco said this during the district celebration of National Farmers Day at Gia. In all 18 farmers from the municipality were presented with awards at the event with Mr. Ignatus Kwokiyoni Asuakwo being adjudged the Best Municipal farmer for Kassena-Nankana District. He received a motorized tricycle, a radio set, half piece of cloth, a pair of wellington boots, three cutlasses, bars of soap, a bag of fertilizer and a certificate. Speaking at the function, Mr. Adamu Seidu Vasco said apart of the inadequate staff, another major challenge facing agriculture in the municipality was the deliberate refusal of farmers to pay for inputs advanced to them to support them in their activities. This attitude, he maintained smacks of dishonesty on the part of those farmers. He disclosed that last year, only 50 per cent recovery was made on the block farming programme. He however cautioned that the department of agriculture will adopt all available means to pursue defaulting farmers to the recovery of any support extended to them. The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Emmanuel Andema urged farmers constitute themselves into groups since it was only through that they can access agriculture extension services, information on agricultural technologies and the best farming practices that are environmentally friendly. “By coming together to form strong groups, our farmers would also be able to empower their members to influence policies of government that affect their livelihood”, he said. -End- benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh