By Emmanuel Nyatsikor
Adaklu Wumenu (V/R), Nov. 9, GNA – Mr. Walter Wogbemase Zuh, Adaklu District Chief Executive, on Friday said it was imperative to identify key challenges in the agricultural sector that might affect productivity and the welfare of farmers.
“Let us identify the challenges in the agricultural sector, especially those that are peculiar to our local farmers and find solutions to them,” he said.
Mr. Zuh stated this at the 40th Annual National Farmers Day celebration at Adaklu Wumenu in the Adaklu district.
It was on the theme: “building climate resilient agriculture for sustainable food security.”
He stated that the government had implemented several climate resilient agriculture practices, including the national climate smart agriculture and food security action plan.
The DCE noted that this plan was to develop and create a framework for climate agriculture in Ghana and it included strategies to develop climate resilient agriculture and food systems and build human capacity needed to promote it.
He called on businesspeople in the agriculture value chain sector to build synergies through effective collaboration of all stakeholders to help the nation achieve its goals in the agricultural sector in view of the global climate change.
Mr. Zuh appealed to farmers in the district to register in their numbers for the second phase of the government’s flagship programme of Planting for Food and Jobs.
He said this would enable them to have access to fertilizer.
Ms Eugenia Bruce, Adaklu District Director of the Department of Agriculture noted that one of the core activities of her outfit was the consistent outreach of their Agricultural Extension Agents who conducted numerous farm and home visits.
She said by so doing farmers had been provided valuable guidance on crop management, climate smart practices, pest control and more.
The Director noted that in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, a tomato and amaranthus were established at Adaklu Kpogadzi to serve as a learning ground for farmers.
She said the major challenges facing her outfit were shortage of Agricultural Extension officers, finance, and logistics.
Ms Patricia Deku, a physically challenged woman was among the nine award winners in the district.
She told the Ghana News Agency that a disability was not an inability and encouraged other physically challenged people to take their destiny into their own hands.
Mr. Henry Demi from Adaklu Sofa was adjudged the best district farmer and for his prize was given a tricycle, machetes, wellington boots, knapsack spraying machines, weedicides, and a certificate.
He advised the youth to refrain from going to the cities in search of non-existent white-collar jobs but take up farming as it has now become a lucrative business.
GNA