Shortfall In Millet, Miaze Production In Upper East

Bolgatanga, Aug. 11, -- Early millet and maize crops for this year in the Upper East region have failed as a result of erratic rains, the Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, said today. In an interview with the GNA in Bolgatanga, Mr. Kingsley Edward Baah, regional agricultural economist, said the early millet crop was a total failure, whilst indications are that the maize crop would not do well. He said an early warning survey conducted in the region in June showed that the anticipated 30 and 15 per cent increases in early millet and maize production would not be attained. He said the region produced 83,400 tonnes of millet and 5,900 tonnes of maize last year, and ''these were projected to increase this year''. The worst affected areas included the Pwalugu maize belt where the bulk of the region's maize is produced. The failure of early millet was widespread. He, therefore, appealed to the people to economise on the use of whatever they might get from the late millet and sorghum and not waste them on funerals.