Africa-Press – Ghana. Mr Abdul Majeed Dokurgu, the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), has announced that the Assembly will allocate more than GHS8 million to boost the agricultural sector within the municipality from next year.
He said the allocation was part of the Assembly’s broader strategies to invest in modern farming technologies and techniques to ensure local food sufficiency and increased processing.
He made the announcement when the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) joined the rest of the nation to celebrate the 41st National Farmers’ Day, at Effia.
It was on the theme: “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future.”
Mr Dokurgu stated that the issue of food security and securing the future through food sufficiency was a matter of utmost importance to the government, “that is why we are going to make provision of over GHC8 million next year to the agriculture sector to help us achieve this commitment.”
He said: “As we are all aware, our municipality is fast becoming a peri-urban area, and this means less arable lands available for agriculture activities.
So, as part of this investment, I have decided to set up a well irrigated 20-acre land at Whindo to be rented out to vegetable farmers.”
The MCE noted that they would also construct a new office complex for the Department of Agriculture at Whindo to help bring administrative services closer to the doorsteps of the people.
Mr Dokurgu added that the Assembly would also construct a 500-bird-per-hour processing centre to help boost poultry production in the municipality.
Touching on some of the interventions rolled out within the year under the sector, he mentioned that the assembly had distributed about 35,000 coconut seedlings to 384 beneficiaries, 15,000 oil palm seedlings supplied to over 62 residents, and over 700 bags of urea fertilizers and 250 pairs of wellington boots were distributed to over 200 beneficiaries all for free.
The MCE noted that as part of initiatives to ensure increase in fish production, the government in collaboration with development partners, trained and equipped over 30 youth with starter packs to embark on catfish production.
That, Mr Dokurgu added, would go a long way to create jobs and ensure regular and additional income for the beneficiaries.
He, thus, applauded the gallant farmers for their continuous resilience and dedication in producing enough food to feed the nation.
He also congratulated all the award winners and asked them to continue to serve as examples and sources of motivation to the other farmers in their various communities.
As part of the celebration, Mr Fuseni Iddrisu, a 45-year-old from Apremdo, was adjudged the Overall Municipal Best Farmer.
He has 33 acres of maize, seven acres of cabbage, two acres of green pepper, six acres of cucumber, 25 acres of rubber plantation, and 10 cows.
He received a certificate of recognition, a tricycle, pairs of wellington boots, and cutlasses among other prizes.
Other awardees were Mr Jacob Ewusie, First Runner-up and Best Municipal Youth Farmer, Madam Paulina Ocran, Second Runner-up and Best Municipal Woman Farmer, Mr John Ansah, Best Municipal Physically Challenged Farmer, and Madam Dorothy Akologo, Best Municipal Poultry Farmer among other winners.
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