Techiman (Brong Ahafo) 28 JAN. '99

District assemblies have been adviced to embark on agroforestry projects to halt desertification. Mr Donald Adabre, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, said since the region falls within the transitional zone, the country stands to lose its natural forest vegetation if measures are not adopted to sensitise the people on the need to protect the environment from desertification. Mr Adabre was visiting the Tano Basin Agroforestry project of the Techiman District Tree Farmers Association along the banks of river Tano in the Techiman area. The farmers are voluntarily planting various species of trees to protect the source of the river. So far, about 300 acres of land have been cultivated. At the Ministry of Food and Agriculture's disease investigating farm and laboratory station at Techiman, Mr Adabre expressed dissatisfaction about the deplorable state of infrastructure and lack of proper equipment to facilitate smooth disease investigation. The Deputy Regional Minister, Alhaji Kwadwo Maama Adam, also Member of Parliament for Techiman south, urged the station to utilise its limited resources for the benefit of the people.