Binduri (U/E), March 03, GNA - TechnoServe, together with farmers in the Bawku East District, are conducting research into garlic and shallot production to find out the feasibility of growing the crops in the area.

Two hundred farmers, with guidance from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Manga Agricultural Research Station, have cultivated demonstration farms to see how well the crops can grow in the area and to prepare the minds of other farmers about its success and the possibility of adopting it. Speaking at the farm sites in Binduri near Bawku, Mr Anthony Adom, Office Manager of the programme, said the initial trial cropping would allow all those involved to study the growth performance and the characteristics of the two crops.

He said even though the area was noted for onion production, yields remained low and the farmers needed to adopt good agricultural practices to increase their production. Mr Pascal Dery, TechnoServe Manager in charge of the northern sector, advised the farmers to discard negative thoughts of poor markets and other unforeseen se tbacks and take their own initiative in adopting the two crops. He said since the two crops mature faster than onion and also store better, they could make money faster and better. TechnoServe is a non-profit international organisation implementing food security interventions in rural communities.