Mr Emmanuel Boakye, Wassa East District Chief Executive (DCE) has said the government has introduced new measures like pruning and fertilization to boost production and implored farmers to contact the Agric Extension Officers for assistance on any of the farming practices to improve the harvest.
He noted that hitherto farmers were using traditional methods in farming and so were not getting the needed yields culminating into profits which made it unattractive to the youth.
He also said the New Patriotic Party government since it took office had put measures in place to make sure that food production receives a boost and therefore introduced the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), Planting for Export and Rural Development and Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ) among others.
Speaking in an interview with Spice News, he announced that the government has made available seedlings for crops like maize, rice, soybeans, cowpea and highly subsidized fertilizer to give farmers relief and called on the youth to take advantage of such incentives.
He, therefore, encouraged the farmers to continue working hard to produce more food in the country so as to increase exportation instead of importation which costs the country huge sums of money.
Mr Boakye further announced that about 4000 people have registered in the district for poultry farming with 50 registered for pig farming and 50 people for coconut and rubber farming.
He also lauded the farmers who in diverse ways and self-sacrifice have worked tirelessly to make sure there was enough food in the District and the nation at large.
He wished all the farmers, fishermen and agro-processors all the best in the pending coming year and expressed the hope that with the support of the District and their commitment and dedication, the farmers will grow and reap more food and create more jobs.
He mentioned some innovations the District has introduced as using bamboo trees as iron rods in building, the introduction of filters to filter the water which has been destroyed by galamsey activities and the introduction of a stove for gari processing.
