MOFA urges maize farmers to opt for poultry manure

Dr John Ayisi Jatango, the Tano North District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), has advised maize farmers to apply poultry manure to increase production and quality yields. He emphasized that it had been scientifically proven that the use of organic or poultry manure was very economical and a good farm practice for increased crop production than organic fertilizer application.

Dr Jatango gave the advice when speaking at a farmer’s field day, organized by the United Nations Agency for International Development (USAID), at Kobedi in the Sunyani West District of the Brong-Ahafo Region.

The day formed part of a partnership programme being implemented by the USAID and the Dupont-Pioneer, an international maize dealing company in the country.

Aimed at increasing the productivity and profitability of smallholder maize farmers in the country, the four-year project is estimated to cost four million US dollars.

Dr Jatango explained that poultry manure, aside its affordability, conserved moisture, increased nutritional value in crops, indicating that because it is slightly acidic it improved soil fertility.

He called on maize farmers to collaborate with poultry farmers so that they could easily access the organic manure at cheaper prices to increase their produce.

Mr. Kwaku Koranteng, a Specialist and Programmes Director of the USAID, explained that about 70,000 farmers in the country would benefit from the project, which provides technical and logistical support, as well as other inputs to the beneficiaries.

He said under the project, farmers are provided with a “30Y87” higher yielding hybrid maize seed and introduced them to related agronomic practices.

It ensures sufficient market access to absorb increased production by supporting the establishment of long-lasting, sustainable market linkages that will remain beyond the life of the project, Mr. Koranteng added.