200 registered for youth employment in agriculture

Asuokaw (E/R), Dec. 4, GNA - Mr Kwabena Sintim-Aboagye, the West Akyem District Chief Executive, has said the Youth Employment Programme was aimed at renewing the interest, commitment and pride of the youth in agriculture.

Speaking at the West Akyem District Farmers' Day at Asuokaw, Mr Sintim-Aboagye said it was the belief of the government that the involvement of the youth in farming would help reduce hunger. He said 200 youth had registered for the youth in agricultural module of the Youth in Employment Programme. Mr Sintim-Aboagye said the district assembly had taken delivery of 1,000 bags of fertilizer from the government for distribution to the youth and promised additional inputs would soon be made available to them.

He said last year, under the Agricultural Support Programme, 84 farmers were supported with a loan of 84 million cedis, together with seed maize, fertilizers and chemicals, to cultivate 250 acres of maize. This year about 260 farmers benefited from the same programme with 500 acres of maize under cultivation.

Thirty-two farmers had also been trained in grasscutter rearing and provided with hutches, breeding stock and a loan facility of 6.1 million cedis per farmer.

In all 23 farmers were awarded with Mr Godwin Wiredu of Sukrom Bethleham adjudged the overall district best farmer. He took home four bundles of roofing sheets, a bicycle, half piece of wax print and six cutlasses.

The Adeiso Methodist Junior Secondary School received a 21-inch television set for being the best school in agriculture.