Farming communities gaining from PAS support

The Presbyterian Agricultural Station (PAS), a Non-governmental organization is working to support rural farmers in the production of food and sustainable income security practices.

The support was given through the provision of integrated agricultural advisory services in the Garu-Tempane District of the Upper East Region.

Mr Solomon Atigah, Manager of the PAS, said the Station is working to promote equitable and sustainable income and food security.

In an interview with Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Garu, he said, apart from training and supporting 125 households with seedlings in five communities, the station has also supported 65 men and women with various inputs including ploughing services, organic manure, pesticides, fertilizers and seeds.

Mr Atigah said the Station embarked on the move through its food security and environment facility, a sub project under the station, to provide sustainable farming techniques to farmers in rural communities.

The project has led to capacity building activities in various households on appropriate animal husbandry practices such as records keeping, feeding and housing treatment among others.

It also supported 50 households on ways to improve on the rearing of small ruminants.

Mr Atigah said with the Zai-Micro, the farmer only has to dig holes in between the crops and bury the manure or the fertilizer and the manure would automatically spread through the crops for growth.

He said since the commencement of the project in 2011, about 60 communities have benefited from capacity building in behavioural change communications, while 125 households have been trained on post-harvest management practices.

Mr Atigah said the project is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development (DFATD) of Canada, through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD).

He said the project is focused on three main interventions including the Zai plus Micro dosing maize production, livestock rearing and tree planting.

He called on farmers to make good use of the interventions rolled out by the Station in order to be able to produce good yields.