Ayuom-Ashanti, June 25, GNA - Dr Francis Marthy Tetteh, an Agricultural Research Scientist has advocated for the use of integrated soil fertility management approach to farming to address the declining crop yields in the country.

He said the practice of slashing and burning by farmers had been a major cause of deforestation and soil depletion which affected agricultural production.

Dr Tetteh was speaking at a forum on sustainable soil management for wealth creation organised for farmers at Ayuom near Sawua in the Bosomtwe District of Ashanti Region. The forum was to highlight the importance of soil organic matter management for sustainable maize production. Dr Tetteh pointed out that agricultural production had been affected by climate change which adversely affected the productivity of soil therefore, an integrated approach to soil management was needed to secure sustainable agricultural development to ensure food sufficiency in the country.

He said Ghana had a total land area of about six million hectares for agriculture but only three million hectares were being cultivated. Dr Tetteh expressed concern about the high rate of land degradation in the country which if not prevented could affect food production. Nana Gyebi Appau II, Chief of Ayuom, stressed the need for farmers to form co-operative unions to access credit facilities from financial institutions to expand their farms. 25 June 09