Regional News of Monday, 5 December 2005

Source: GNA

26 farmers in SKC district received awards

Okanta (E/R), Dec. 5, GNA - 26 farmers, who distinguished themselves in the Suhum/Kraboa/Coaltar District were presented with awards package on the National Farmers' Day at Okanta, near Suhum. Nana Kwabena Appiah, 50, from Dokrokyiwa, who was adjudged the best district farmer, received a spraying machine, a full-piece of wax prints, pair of Wellington boots, a radio cassette recorder, machetes and a certificate.

Addressing the farmers, the District Chief of Executive, Mr Michael Kofi Mensah, commended them for contributing towards food security in the country and urged them to adopt improved methods of production to increase their production.

He assured them that the government would continue to provide them with financial and logistic support to encourage them to increase their productivity to reduce their poverty levels.

Mr Mensah announced that the district assembly had acquired land for the cultivation of cassava and oil palm and asked the farmers to organize themselves into groups to benefit from the project. On the mass cocoa spraying exercise, he expressed concern about reports of the stealing and adulteration of the insecticides by some spraying gangs to sell to farmers.

He warned that any person caught in the act would be dealt with and asked the farmers to expose those involved.