Accra, June 12, GNA - Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister for Food and Agriculture, on Tuesday advised the media to be circumspect in their news reports and verify information to authenticate their findings. Mr Ahwoi made the call at a press briefing in Accra to react to allegations that Mr Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader and Mr Mahama Ayariga, Presidential Spokesperson, purchased tractors intended for underprivileged farmers.

He said the ministry had been allocating tractors and implements to farmers since 1997 under the "Supply of Agricultural Machinery and Equipment to Individual Farmers and Establishment of Agricultural Mechanisation Service Centres (AMSEC)" programmes ran by the Agricultural Engineering Directorate of the ministry.

Mr Ahwoi said distribution was done across board to avoid discrimination and to speed up the sale of the subsidized tractors and other equipment that are interest free.

He said adverts for the sale of the tractors and equipment were placed in the December 6, 2008 and April 8, 2009 editions of the Daily Graphic.

Mr Ahwoi said under the AMSEC programme, "distribution of tractors is done across board to farmers, politicians, civil and public servants, institutions, associations and farmer-based organizations who purchase them".

He said individuals or private companies were supplied with a set of 5 tractors and implements on hire purchase or full payments to offer mechanization services to farmers in the districts to make available appropriate forms of farm power and engineering technologies to all categories of farmers.

The Minister said since December 2008, 72 Agricultural Mechanisation Centres had benefited from the scheme. Members of Parliament, churches and institutions also benefited.

"A Kubota Agricultural Tractor with standard matching accessories for rice cultivation for instance was sold at a market price of 36,000 Ghana cedis but sold under the programme for a subsidized price of 18,000 Ghana cedis. A down payment of 10,000 Ghana cedis can be placed and the balance could be spread in three years," he said.

He said the overall objective was to increase agricultural productivity, minimize drudgery and empower farmers to earn more and live comfortably thereby reducing rural-urban drift.

Mr Ahwoi urged the public to patronize the scheme, which would in turn promote the agricultural development. 11 June 09