Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana

AGRICULTURE

Bunkprurugu District Chief Farmer want's curfew hours revised

Mr Alhassan Bidobi, 46-year old 2014 Bunkpurugu District Best Farmer in the Northern Region, has appealed to government to review the curfew hours in the District, imposed due to a fatal communal violence.

Date Created : 10/21/2015 12:00:00 AM : Story Author :

He said the curfew, which spans 4pm to 6am should be reviewed to 6pm to 6am to reduce the suffering of the people and ensure food production since the farming season has began.

He said the curfew has the potential to increase poverty and hunger in the area since hard working farmers do not stay long hours in their farms.

Mr Bidobi was speaking at a Policy Dialogue Session in Bunkpurugu organised by SIFA Agro Trade Investment Company Limited and USAID Agriculture Policy Support Programme (APSP).

The Policy Dialogue Session is a joint programme between SIFA Agro Trade and USAID APSP to solicit the views of smallholder farmers on the impact of Food and Agricultural Development Project II and Medium Term Agricultural Sector Investment Plan on their livelihood.

The programme also aims at facilitating dialogue between smallholder farmers and their members of parliament to increase their voice in policy formulation.

Mr Bidobi bemoaned the neglect of the district by some government agencies insisting that the bad roads and perceived long distance to the place is no excuse for Bunkpurugu to be deprived of projects that are meant to reduce poverty.

Lack of tractors in the district and lack of interest by financial institutions in the district is hampering farming activities and poverty reduction.

Non availability of certified seeds allows many farmers to use old seeds and recycled produce as seeds, which is affecting yields and increasing our risk, he said.

He therefore appealed to government and other institutions to consider supporting the district in a special way to alleviate the suffering of the people.

Mr Abdallah Mohammed, District Agriculture Officer, appealed to Department of Feeder Roads to improve road network in the district to ensure that farming communities have easy access to market.

Good road network will also mean efficient discharge of Ministry of Food and Agriculture supervisory role, he said.

He the Executive of Africa governments Maputo declaration to spend 10 per cent of their resources on agriculture.

GNA