The District chief Executive for the Bongo in the Upper East Region – Hon Rita Atanga has cautioned farmers against bad farming practices such as bush burning as well as tree-felling.
For Rita Atanga, the increasing number of bush fires coupled with the indiscriminate cutting down of trees and land pollution tend to destroy the environment and there is therefore the need to embrace best Agriculture practices “permit me to take this opportunity to advise our farmers and general against practices that destroys our environment, these practices such as cutting down of trees, indiscriminate bush burning and pollution tend to destroy our environment which is already fragile .I will also like to urge all farmers to adhere to best practices and adopt new and improved technology from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Forestry Commission which will not only increase productivity, but will lead to a sustainable agriculture development”.
Speaking at the 37th farmers’ day at Tarongo, a suburb of Zorko in the Bongo District under the theme “Planting For Food And Jobs – Consolidating Food System In Ghana Hon Rita Atanga noted that the theme for the event is timely because most Farmers in the Bongo District have improved significantly in terms of productivity due to their embracement of the government flagship programs of plantings For Food and Jobs and per the available results she received from the ministry of Food and Agriculture for the year 2021, she was overwhelmed and therefore urge farmers in the District to maintain the statuesque
she however noted that the received and distributed 27,200 NPK, UREA 2,000,Maize Seeds 300bags and Rice seeds 100bags from the government flagship programme of Planting For Food And Jobs which would improve harvest.
She outlined that most of the challenges the Ministry of Food Agriculture is facing will soon be over because government has introduced Modernization of Agriculture adding that most staff will be fully resourced with logistics such as means of transportation and equipment needed for agricultural extension.
She noted that four communities in the Bongo District has been enrolled into the Planting for Export and Rural Development with a total of thirty-nine thousand, four hundred and fifty of cashew seeds have been distributed to 35 farmers last year which is expected to be extended to others communities.
Mr. Edgar Drah, Bongo District Director of Agriculture noted that though the ministry of Food and Agriculture is presently facing a lot of setbacks, it still remain resilient to the annual GDP due to the introduction of good and development policy such as the planting For Food and Jobs. Every program, he noted, encounters challenges which the Planting for Food and Jobs is no exception. He assured that government is putting measures in place to get all setbacks resolved relative to the Planting for Food and Jobs.
Gaspard Ayuureneeya.