AGRIC EXTENSION OFFICERS RECEIVE MOTORBIKES

In as much as government wants to modernize agriculture in Ghana to ensure the sector becomes attractive for both younger and older generations to invest their resources, government under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has released ten (10) brown new Galaxy Motorbikes to extension unit of the department of Agriculture to enhance the work of the extension officers in Tano South Municipality.

The motorbikes which were commissioned and distributed to the extension officers at the forecourt of the department of agriculture saw dignitaries like Hon. Collins Offinam Takyi, the MCE for Tano South, Hon. John Dadzie, the Presiding Member for Tano South Municipal Assembly, Mr Kyei-Baffour Owusu –Achaw, the Municipal Agric Director, Agric Extension Officers and some Officials of the Assembly.

        Picture up indicates the motorbikes whilst MCE for Tano South handling the motorbikes to the Municipal Agric Director

In a short but impressive opening address, Mr Kyei-Baffour Owusu-Achaw, the Tano South Municipal Agric Director thanked MCE for Tano South and other officers for making time out of their busy schedule to attend the programme and hinted that government had released ten (10) brown new Galaxy motorbikes to the extension unit ofthe department of agriculture, Tano South to help field officersreach farmers at hard to reach areas in the Municipality and educate them on modern methods of agricultural practices to makefarmersobtain higher yields during the major and minor farming seasons. 

The Municipal Agric Director addressing participants at the programme

Mr Kyei said government had introduced planting for food and jobs programme seeking to make Ghana achieves self- sufficiency in food production and stressed that the released of the motorbikes by government would go a long way to enhance the work of the extension officers and promised that the department would use the motorbikes for their intended purposes and put them into good use. 

Hon. Collins Offinam Takyi, the MCE for Tano South said he was very happy about the  intervention modules government had introduced in agricultural sector to assist farmers acquire bumper harvest during farming seasons and emphasized that government planting for food and jobs programme had been recognized and supported by Canadian government and informed all officers in the Municipality to educate other residents in the Municipality on government policies and programmes to make government achieves an intent to which the programmes were introduced.

                                                                 The MCE for Tano South speaking at the function

 

Hon Takyi stressed that when Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government assumed office they had been able to employ extension workersin the Municipality and urged them to impart their technical skills and knowledge to farmersto make them produce more foodstuffs and hinted that Tano south Municipal Assembly had collaborated with the department of agriculture to embark on oil palm nursery project of which the seedlings would be distributed to farmers free of charge to boost agriculture in the Municipality.

On government industrialization policy, Hon Takyi said government had introduced different intervention programmes which could help farmers to produce more foodstuffs to feedindustries and the nation and informed all and sundry to support government implement its policies and programmes.

COCOA FARMERS SCHOOLED ON WAYS TO IMPROVE YIELDS AT BECHEM

 The cocoa farmers’ associations in Ahafo Ano North East, Ahafo and Bono Regions converged at Bechem in the Tano South Municipality to receive education on the application of fertilizers, methods of controlling pest and disease and other farming practices.

The programme which held at Bechem Roman Catholic park saw dignitaries like Hon Benjamin Yeboah Sekere, the deputy minister for Ahafo Region and Member of Parliament for Tano south Constituency, Hon Collins Offinam Takyi, the MCE for Tano South, Hon Ernest Kwarteng, the MCE for Tano North, Hon Bukari Zakari Anaba, the former district Chief Executive for Tano South, Mr. Amakyi Dede, the Bono Regional Cocoa Health Extension Officer, Mr Gyamfi Kumaning, the best cocoa farmer for 2018 and Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, the Omanhene of Bechen Traditional Council. 

                                                      Some Dignitaries and participants seated at the function 

In a short but impressive address, Mr Amakyi Dede, the Bono Regional Cocoa Health Extension Officer thanked all those who came from all walks of life to attend the programme and hinted that since cocoa farmers play a significant role in the economy of Ghana, there is the need for them to be educated on good farming practices to ensure they obtain high yields. He said fertilizer subsidy had been enjoyed by farmers over the years and stressed that government under the leadership of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had also subsidized fertilizers’ price where cocoa farmers are allowed to pay 20% instant price per a bag of fertilizer and pay the rest of money during the minor and major cocoa farming seasons.

                             The Bono Regional Cocoa Health Extension Officer speaking at the function 

Mr Amakyi said government would find it difficult to identify challenges of individual farmer and urged them to form cooperative society and submit their grievances holistically  to government and informed them also to follow all farming practices which would be given to them by the extension officers.

The MCE for Tano South, Hon. Collins Offinam Takyi said the Mass Cocoa spraying exercise was introduced under the leadership of former President John Agyekum Kuffour and hinted that the programme had been sustained over the years by successive governments. Hon Takyi said His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President of the Republic of Ghana had also introduced pollination exercise to augment the existing programmes to make farmers obtain higher yields during the cocoa farming seasons. He said Ghana and Cote’ De’vore  produce many tons of cocoa and that matter; His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had planned to collaborate with Cote’ De’vore  President to set cocoa price  to address the current cocoa price which had recorded significant drop in the world market.

                                                           MCE for Tano South, addressing the gathering

Hon Benjamin Yeboah Sekyer who is the deputy Minister for Ahafo Region and MP for Tano South Constituency used the occasion to catalogue some of the achievements of government and reiterated that government under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would continue to distribute national resources equally and equitably to all MMDA’s to make  authorities execute the needed projects aimed to improve the living standards of the rural folks and urged farmers also to form association to make them to be identified and provided with farm inputs by government.

                                                   Hon. Benjamin Yeboah Sekyere addressing the gathering 

Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, the Omanhene of Bechem Traditional Council who chaired the programme urged government to support farmers with the necessary farm inputs and stressed that the availability of farm inputs will help farmers to cultivate their lands throughout the year to produce more food to feed the country.

                                           Omanhene of Bechem Traditional Council speaking at the function