By Christopher Tetteh, GNA
Huhunya, (Eastern), Dec. 6, GNA – Dr. Jonas Tetteh Nomo, the Yilo Krobo Municipal best farmer, has appealed to government to employ more Agriculture Extension Officers (AEOs) to support farmers with modern farming knowledge and technology to improve yields and food security.
He made the Appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Friday, after the 41st Farmers’ day celebration at Huhunya, near Nkurakan in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The event under the national theme: “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the future” was to recognized and celebrate the contributions of hard working Ghanaian farmers.
A total of 23 farmers in the Yilo Krobo Municipality were awarded in categories, including maize, tomatoes, cassava, oil palm, livestock, mango, pepper and cabbage farming.
Dr. Nomo expressed worry that the Municipality, a farming community, was with few AEOs, which was affecting farming system in the area with low yield.
He urged the Assembly to rehabilitate roads to farms to ease transportation and establish a juice factory and storage facility to process and preserve fruits for exports, create jobs and boost the local economy.
He said the Municipality, one of the leading mango producers in the country, needed a processing factory and storage facility to make farming attractive in the area.
Mr. Benjamin Bortey Alabi, the Yilo Krobo Municipal Agriculture Director, said the inadequate number of extension officers was hindering the ability to reach out to farmers and entreated government to address the issue to enhance Agricultural production.
He said currently there were only five officers, who were attending to over 50,000 farmers in the area.
Mr. Francis Addo Akumatey, the Yilo Krobo Municipal Chief Executive, urged Ghanaians to renew commitment to the Feed Ghana programme by consciously growing and choosing locally produced food crops through which the future could be secured for sustainable food security.
Dr. Albert Nyakotey, the Member of Parliament for the area, encouraged the youth to go into agriculture and agribusinesses, saying, the government was committed to making farming attractive and a lucrative business.
The awardees received certificates and medals, and farming equipments including wheelbarrows, fufu milling machines, bags of organic fertilizers, and spraying machines
GNA
Edited by Regina Benneh/Christian Akorlie