By Jerry Azanduna
Tanoso (Bono East), Nov. 10, GNA – Mr Patrick Acheampong, the Bono East Regional Chief Farmer has called on the government to revamp the defunct Tanoso Irrigation Dam and to support farming activities in the area.
He expressed worry that climate change impact was being felt in the area and evidenced in the present unfavourable rainfall patterns and unpredictability of the weather, affecting crop production.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during a visit to his farm at Tanoso in the Techiman Municipality, Mr Acheampong said that with the irrigation facility, farmers could do year-round farming and improve food productivity and enhance their livelihoods as well.
He said farmers in the area also required agriculture inputs and machines like combine harvesters and tractors, saying that with the machines farming would be appealing and to attract the unemployed youth in the area.
Mr Acheampong commended the government for supplying some of the farmers with fertilizers and other agro-chemicals in the last crop season, saying such support motivated the farmers to produce more in the season.
He emphasised that farming remained a lucrative enterprise, however, added that it was not appealing to many of the youth because of adequate government support.
Mr Acheampong said he had acres of fruits, vegetables, tubers and some cash crops as well as livestock and fish farms.
He said he had cultivated 187 acres of maize farm, 50 acres of beans, 10 acres of watermelon and 48 acres of cashew plantation.
Mr Acheampong said that with the provision of farm inputs, machines and logistics like fertilizer, seedlings, tractors and storage facilities as well as ready market the farmers in the area would produce more.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/ Christabel Addo
Reporter: Jerry Azanduna