Government rehabilitates irrigation facilities

Techiman (B/A) Dec 8, GNA - The government is to spend 20 billion cedis on the rehabilitation of three irrigation sites at Tanoso, Kokroko and Kaniago in Techiman Municipality in Brong Ahafo. Mr. Prince Donyina, Municipal Chief Executive who announced this at a farmers rally at Tanoso on Friday in connection with the 23rd national farmers' day, said it was part of government efforts to reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture in the country.

He said the Tanoso and Kokroko projects were almost complete, whilst the contract for that at Kaniogo had been awarded. The MCE advised the youth to take advantage of the irrigation facilities and engage in agricultural activities to increase food production, adding that, government had introduced an agricultural support pr ogramme to enable farmers to have easy access to credit facilities.

He called on farmers to desist from using children in commercial agriculture since it was against the Children's Act, saying, the International Labour Organisation was, in collaboration with the government, putting in place interventions to withdraw children from worst forms of child labour and enroll them in schools and other learning centres.

Dr Stephen Ockling, acting Municipal Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture urged farmers to redouble efforts to increase food production to meet the country's increasing population. He advised the farmers to seek knowledge in the application of agro-chemicals from extension officers and cautioned them about fake chemicals.

Mr. John Kwaku Owusu, chief technical officer in- charge of poultry in the municipality stressed that the outbreak of the bird flu called for pragmatic measures to prevent the infection from entering farms.

Thirty-one farmers, including a physically disabled from Dentekrom, were honoured for their good performance in the production of livestock, cassava, maize, yam and cocoyam. The overall best farmer award went to Nana Appiah Sakariya, a 49 year old Odikro of Atea near Nsuta who took home a corn mill, two cutlasses, one radio set recorder, a pair of Wellington boots, a wall clock, a knapsack sprayer, a garden line, two bars of key soap, a certificate of merit and a badge.

The rest, including five females received certificates of merit, badges, Wellington boots and cutlasses, among others. Nana Apenten Fosu Gyeabour, Banmuhene and Hansuahene of Techiman traditional area who presided advised the farmers to make use of the expert advice of agricultural extension officers for the preservation of the land for sustainable farming. 08 Dec. 07