The Yendi Evangelical Presbyterian Development and Relief Agency (EPDRA), has granted an access production credit of GHC 4,000 to nine- farmer based organisations (FBO) in the Yendi Municipality to cultivate soya beans, groundnut and sorghum.   

The EPDRA dolled out the grant in collaboration with Bonzali Rural Bank in the Northern Region.   

Some of the beneficiary organisations include: Yendi Suglo Bullock Co-operative Farmers and Marketing Limited (Ltd), Sang Kpanmanga Kuni Sonda Co-operative Farmers and Society Ltd, and Kulikpanga Bongu Nnyee Yaa Co-operative Farming and Marketing Society Limited.  

The Programme Manager of the EPDRA, Mr Joshua Nyaaba, announced this during the presentation of certificates to the farmer- based organisations in Yendi.  

Mr Nyaaba said the loan granted the organisations would attract 30 per cent interest and would be re-paid within one year.  

He said for the past five years, EPDRA had organised 52 farming groups in 25 communities in the municipality in order to develop their capacities to become viable and independent farmer- based organisations under the Association of Church Development Project (ACDEP).  

Mr Nyaaba indicated that the first batch of the nine FBO have been registered with the Department of Co-operative Society.

The Executive Director of the ACDEP, Mr Malex Alebikiya said the Savanna Farmers Marketing Company was established by the association five years ago to provide market and attractive prices for soya beans, groundnuts, and sorghum farmers in the Northern, Upper East and West regions.   

Mr Alebikaya said the Evangelical Presbyterian Farm was established in Yendi 50 years ago to train farmers in bullock farming and other agricultural techniques.   

The Municipal Budget Officer, Mr Issifu Ali called on the people in the area to sustain the peace they are enjoying because without peace they cannot benefit from any credit facility to carry out their farming and other businesses.   

He urged farmers to form co-operative groups to benefit from credit facilities from the Municipal Assembly and banks in the area.   

Mr Ali said the assembly was preparing the Malzeri and Sunson dams for irrigation to let the youth to go into dry season farming.   

He commended EPDRA for its development partnership wit the assembly in agriculture, preparation of action plans and capacity building for farmers to produce more food.   

The Chairman of the FBO, Mr Chimsi Mahama, commended EPDRA and ACDEP for establishing the market access credit project, which was aimed at finding solution to production, marketing, and other related problems facing farmers in the municipality.

GNA/DS