Delayed rains slow down pace of "Block Farming" in Upper West

Wa, July 15, GNA - The rains delayed for over three weeks in the Upper West Region during the current farming season and this has affected ploughing for farmers engaged in the 93Block Farming" programme, Mr. Charles Adams, Regional Director of Agriculture, has said.

He said because of this it might not be possible for them to hit the initial target of 14,055 acres of land that was earmarked for the "Block Farming" programme in the region this year.

Mr. Adams told the GNA in an interview that the irregular delivery of compound fertilizer was another factor that could slightly affect the smooth implementation of the programme if not checked.

Out of the initial target of 14,055 acres of land, he said, Wa Municipality was allocated 2,400 acres while Wa East and Wa West districts were also allocated 900 and 3,500 acres respectively.

The rest are Nadowli, 13,500, Lawra, 540, Jirapa, 910, Lambussie/Karni, 205, Sissala East and Sissala West Districts respectively took 600 and 1,800.

He said with the return of the rains all the districts had bounced back to action, stressing that if the rains remained as normal it may still be possible to hit the target.

The Regional Director said farmers had been advised to move their farms from low land areas to prevent their farms from being destroyed by floods.

Mr. Adams said some of the farmers complained to him that their district Agricultural Offices had left them out of the programme but explained that it was so because those farmers defaulted in the repayment.

He said some commercial farmers were also interested in hijacking the programme by demanding large tracts of land.

"The programme is designed for the youth as a way of encouraging them to go into farming," Mr Adams said.