Ekumfiman Rural Bank to provide irrigation facilities for vegetable growers

The Ekumfiman Rural Bank at Ekumfi Essuehyia in the Central Region in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is to provide smalls scale irrigation facilities for vegetable farmers in its catchment area to enable them produce vegetables all year round.

The bank is also to provide insurance packages for loans to farmers against crop failure.

Mr. Michael Kumi Frimpong Manager of the bank who disclosed this to Ghana News Agency at Ekumfi Essuehyia on Friday said the bank was also to provide storage facilities at vantage points for farmers to preserve their produce.

Mr. Frimpong said the decision of the bank to support farmers was due to the erratic rainfall pattern and post-harvest loses which affected crop production and maximisation of income.

He said the two factors of poor rainfall pattern and post-harvest loses were setbacks to the recovery of loans granted to farmers.

Mr. Frimpong said last year the bank in collaboration with the Social Investment Fund helped some fishermen to acquire fishing inputs including outboard motors.

He advised fishermen to desist from using unapproved nets and other bad practices, which contribute to the depletion of fish stocks in the waters.