As part of measures to halt seasonal migration of youth to southern parts of the country in search of jobs, the Nabdam District Assembly is to establish three processing mills in the area to engage more of the active human resource.
The three processing mills would include Shea butter, groundnuts and soya, when fully implemented, and would be in fulfillment of government’s promise of establishing a factory each in all districts of the country.
Mrs. Agnes Anamoo, Nabdam District Chief Executive, announced this on the occasion of the 33rd Farmers’ Day celebration held at Zanlerigu, a farming community in the district.
[contextly_sidebar id=”dl0Evvx66efws15fCzmabiL67kbNj6up”]According to Mrs. Anamoo, the factories will “promote rapid industrialization of the district, and create job opportunities and wealth for all”
This year’s celebration of the Farmers’ Day was on the theme “Farming for food and jobs”.
It is a day set aside to honor gallant farmers and fishermen in recognition of their untiring efforts for continuously feeding the country.
Mrs. Anamoo stated that, the district received a total of 5,225 bags of assorted chemical fertilizers under government’s “Planting for food and jobs” programme.
Out of this number, 3,114 bags were disbursed to 697 farmers during the farming season, whilst 2,111 bags, are currently in stock to cater for those farmers who would be going into dry season farming.
“I wish to use this opportunity to entreat all of you to take advantage of the availability of these inputs to go into dry season gardening and those of you who are already into it to upscale your farming” she admonished.
The Nabdam district assembly has awarded for rehabilitation, the Kongo-Avareme dam which got broken during the rainy season.
“The contractor has since been on site, and is expected to complete by the end of this month” she stated.
This year’s celebration coincided with World Aids Day, which is commemorated on 1st of December each year.
Mrs. Anamoo bemoaned the increasing spate of HIV/AIDS cases recorded in the district this year, saying, “Last year, 52 cases were recorded in our health facilities. This year, the number has increased to 56 when the year has not ended”
Acting Nabdam District Director of Agriculture, Iddi Mahamadu in an interview with the Ghana News Agency appealed to government to consider employing more extension officers to help boost the agricultural sector in the area.
“We have eight extension officers, and if we have 21 officers, I think it will do” he said.
Mr. Iddi revealed that more than 60 percent of inputs distributed under the planting for food and jobs policy had been recovered, and said the lack of logistics including; means of transportation was another challenge hampering agricultural production in the district.
“The only good means of transport is the motorbike which I am using. Most of our motorbikes are worn-out and the effect is that, we cannot reach all the farmers and that is how it is affecting the delivery”, he added.
Mr. Ontoyen Denis emerged the District best farmer. For his prize, he took home a tricycle, radio set, half piece of wax print, a pair of Wellington boots, a bar of key shop, three cutlasses, two bags of compound fertilizers, two knapsack sprayers and a certificate.
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Source: GNA