The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon Seth Kwame Acheampong has paid a working visit to some selected agricultural sites in the Akuapem North Municipal and the Yilo Krobo Municipal.
The purpose of the field visit was to assess the level of implementation of government agricultural flagship programmes in the Eastern Region, identify challenges confronting the farmers and soliciting support to address the challenges.
The Minister was accompanied by Regional Director, Department of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Henry Crentsil and his key staff, the respective Municipal Chief Executive Officers and their Directors from Department of Food and Agriculture and selected staff of the Regional Coordinating Council.
At Akuapim North Municipal Assembly, the minister and his team visited Maroon and Green. The Forty Eight (48) Green House Unit Structures, arguably the biggest green house in the country specifically located at Amonokrom.
The company was into the Production of all kings of vegetables (both local end and Continental vegetable), Avocado Farm and Packhouse to prepare the harvested product for market.
According to the Management, the company currently supply hundred percent of their fresh vegetable to hotels, shopping malls and restaurants in Accra, Eastern region and other part of the country.
The management indicated that the major challenge that confront company was the employee turn over. According to them, the trained workers, recruited from the community usually do not return to work and sometimes at their own will after they have been paid their first wages. Others would come back only when they have exhausted their wages.
The team visited Legacy Crop Improvement Center & Legacy Seed (LCIC) at Otareso also in Akuapim North Municipality. LCIC is a Private company engaged in the production of Foundation Seeds & Certified Seeds especially maize and sorghum.
The most popular among the seeds is the Aburo Legon; a hybrid maize seed which produces a higher number quantity and quality yields.
In a presentation, the manager of the company indicated that the company supplies seeds to farmers across the length and breathe of the country.
He indicated that the seed the produce has the ability to withstand and survive at differences vegetation and climatic condition, adding that some farmers in the northern part of the country patronize their products.
Hon Acheampong ended the field visit at Kpamu -Akpo, a community in the Yilo Krobo Municipality where he interacted with the Chiefs, opinion leaders and a section of the public at a durbar.
The conversations centered on how to improve the standard of living for the people in the community whose major occupation was farming.
The farmers in the community were predominantly into Cabbage Production. Presenting their challenges., the Assemblyman of the area who spoke on behalf of the Traditional Leaders and community appealed to the minister to facilitate the construction of the road leading to the town which was in a deplorable state. The community also requested for the construction of mechanism borehole to improve water situation in the area.
Speaking to the media, Hon. Acheampong reiterated government’s commitment to improve agric sector of the country’s economy.
He added that the introduction of government flagship programme such as Planting for food and jobs, rearing for food and jobs, PERD, etc were the evidence that affirm the position.
He assured that the challenges revealed by the farmers and key stakeholders in the sector during the tour would be considered and appropriate measured would be implemented to address the issues.
He indicated that the Regional Coordinating Council would continue to monitor and ensure that all government policies and programmes were fully implemented for the benefit of the citizens.
The Regional Director, Department of Food and Agriculture praised farmers for the reintroduction organic fertiliser in the farming practices. He said, the recent war between Russia and Ukraine has led to difficulties in acquiring adequate fertiliser thereby having negative effect on Agriculture.
However, the reintroduction of manure, composite fertiliser and other organics product has seen the situation improved significantly, he disclosed.
