Mr. Prince Yaw Donyina, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Techiman in the Brong- Ahafo Region has called for vigilance and strict measures in the issuance of coupons for subsidized fertilizers by government to farmers in the Municipality so that the process does not generate into black marketing to negate the good intensions of Government under the fertilizer subsidization policy.

As part of the government poverty reduction strategy, a total of 1,000 coupons of NPK 23-10-5 fertilizer; 3,700 NPK 15-15-15; 1,000 urea and 1,600 sulphate of Amnonia have been allocated to the Municipality to mitigate the impact of high prices of such products on farmers.

The MCE said this during the Second Ordinary Meeting of The Second Session of The Fifth Assembly at Techiman, adding that the government is subsidizing the cost of fertilizer by half the price in favour of the Ghanaian farmer.

He also said the government is subsidizing the cost of cultivating 20 hectares of secondary multiplication sites by 15 farmers to supply improved cassava planting materials to cassava farmers in the Municipality at a cost of  GH¢6,250.00.

Touching on other government policies in the Agricultural sector, the MCE said Techiman Municipality has been selected for the Root and Tuber Improvement and marketing Programme (RTIMP). The programme, he said is designed to enhance income and food security thereby improves the livelihood of the rural poor and to build a market-based system to ensure profitability at all levels of the food chain.

A three farmer field fora on the RTIMP has been established at Aworowa, Faiso and Nsuta-Mampomg with an average of 500 cassava growing farmers participating in the programme and plans are far advanced to add more farmers.

The MCE also said the Ministry of Food Agriculture (MOFA) in the Municipality has embarked on free vaccination programme for small ruminates (sheep and goats) and so far 15 communities have been covered and the target is to cover all communities.

On irrigation, the MCE said the Tanoso Irrigation project is about 95% completed, the Kokroko Small Farmers Irrigation Project is completed, while that of Kaniago is still on-going.
Commenting on the Tomato Processing Factory, he said the Techiman Tomato Factory is virtually completed and machines installed.  Electricity has also been extended to the transformer. He gave assurance that as soon as some management issues are resolved, the facility will be commissioned.

Ending his speech on some government policies in Agriculture, he announced that Techiman shall host this year’s Nationa Farmers Day event.

Source:  Mr. Imoro T. Ayibani (ISD) Municipal Information Officcer

Posted: 26/08/08 

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