The youth of four communities in the Wa East District has appealed to the authorities of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), to assist them to undertake dry season farming project along the Kulun River.

The youth of Yayuobe, Kulun, Yala No.1 and Yala No.2 said they were interested in undertaking dry season farming using the abundant water in the Kulun River, a tributary of the White Volta to irrigate their crops but lacked resources, improved seeds, farm inputs and tractor service to start with.

The youth who made the appeal through the Ghana News Agency, said they have realised that they could use the water in the river to produce butternut squash, onions, maize, vegetables, groundnuts and beans, as well as watermelon and green pepper during the dry season to sell and improve their income levels.

The youth pleaded with SADA to come over to Yayuobe and undertake feasibility studies on the river water and if found suitable for irrigation purpose, SADA could support them to undertake the project.

According to them, many youth in the area had been migrating to urban centres during the dry season in search of greener pastures, while others had made the illegal mining (Galamsey) their main business, resulting in the death and maiming of several of them.

The project, they said when implemented, would make the youth more productive and would help them contribute their quota to development as well as help them open up the area to investors.

“Right now, only alien Fulani herdsmen and their cattle are utilising the water, while the youth in the communities are idling. Some youth are also spending their pastime in game and wildlife and destructing the environment with bush fires”, the youth said.