This document will among others come up with the best ways to end incessant clashes between peasant farmers and herdsmen.

[contextly_sidebar id=”nVZwWkAGiQHUbc5UlvHQV8m3oUKxMzic”]Speaking to Citi News, the Minister said if the document is generated and passed into law, the sporadic clashes would be curbed.

“The government has tasked about four ministries to produce a national cattle Ranching document that will be sent to parliament to be approved or pushed into a law such that whoever rears cattle in Ghana, would have to abide by that document, but that has not come out yet” he said.

The conflict between herdsmen and peasant farmers in some parts of the country in the past, has led to the loss of lives, property and farm produce.

In recent times, nine persons have died from such clashes at Dwerebeafe, Aboyan and Mpeamu in the Kwahu East District of the Eastern Region.

Eric Kwakye Darfour has asked local authorities in the region to come out with by-laws for the time being that will help minimize clashes between crop farmers and herdsmen.

“In the meantime, I have asked my MMDCEs to also come out with bylaws, bring it to the state attorney, they will look into it, if it doesn’t infringe on our national constitution, they will send it back to the assembly members who will adopt them and they will become a working document that will be used to regulate cattle rearing in various jurisdictions, otherwise we do not have specific laws which will readily come into place to regulate” he said

He said cattle rearing has become a crucial part of Ghana’s agriculture economy hence the need to regulate and sanitize the sector.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Cattle Ranching document needed to end Nomadic clashes – Minister appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the PFAG, which lauded Citi FM and government’s campaign against galamsey, said galamsey threatened food security and health.

Speaking at the 2017 inauguration of the fertilizer watchdog committees in the three regions of the North at Paga in the Upper East Region, the Regional Coordinator of PFAG, Mrs. Victoria Adongo, said the move by government to stop galamsey was apt, adding that, there were several alternatives for the illegal miners including farming.

“Galamsey activities have taken over the land of the farmers and have polluted and poisoned the water bodies. We (PFAG) did a research and realized that most of the water was full of arsenic, actually some of the food stuff and vegetable produce, there ware traces of arsenic in the food.”

That is why we are emphasizing our support for government’s actions against galamsey activities in the country. But we should also recognize that; what will these galamsey operators be doing after their activities are successfully stopped by government? What are the alternatives?

“That is why we(PFAG) are inviting the galamsey people to join us do farming, now that agriculture is being transformed in Ghana, farming is the safest, most secure, and less troublesome area to engage in” Mrs. Adongo advised.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Stop galamsey, start farming – Peasant Farmers advocate appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The fertilizer watchdog committees will monitor the movement of subsidized fertilizers across neighboring countries and report such perpetrators to the security agencies for arrest and prosecution.

Speaking at the National launch of the project  “2017 PFAG fertilizer Watch Dogs” on Friday(28th April,2017) at the Paga border in the Upper East Region, Regional Coordinator of PFAG, Mrs. Victoria Adongo, said the move was to help protect the tax payer’s money and compliment government’s efforts of making subsidized fertilizer accessible to farmers.

“The PFAG envisions fertilizer smuggling this year as has been the case when fertilizer prices in Ghana are lower than that of neighboring countries coupled with price differences between open market and subsidized fertilizer.”

It is in this regard that the PFAG has identified volunteers in all border towns in the three regions of the North where fertilizer smuggling is pervasive to support the security agencies with relevant information to effect the arrest of smugglers” Mrs. Adongo added.

She indicated that, the various watch dog committees will receive comprehensive orientation by the security agencies  to effectively discharge their duties.

Mrs. Adongo said Ghanaian farmers resident in neighboring countries will be issued special kits by their district fertilizer desk officers for easy movement of fertilizer across the borders.

The Navrongo Crime officer, ASP Issahaku Adjei, and the Paga CEPS Commander Emmanuel Lawson, pledged their support and commitment to the fight against fertilizer smuggling in the area, and impressed on committee members to provide accurate and timely information.

Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Frank Fuseini Adongo, reiterated government commitment in making agric viable to all farmers with the 50 percent fertilizer subsidy and other inputs under the planting for food and Jobs project.

He urged the farmers to police the movement of the fertilizers to their benefit, and called on farmers to take advantage of the initiative to make Ghana a food sufficient country and a net exporter of many food stuff.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Peasant Farmers inaugurate watchdog c’ttee to curb fertilizer smuggling appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.