Gambaga (N/R), May 9, GNA - Mr. Adams Imoro, East Mamprusi District Chief Executive (DCE) said that about 60 farmers in the area have received 600 "Jalongky", locally bred sheep for rearing. He explained that it formed part of government's credit in kind policy that sought to improve farmers' livelihood and boost meat production in Ghana. He told GNA that the policy was being executed as a pilot project and farmers would make use of the suitability of the country's vegetation to solve the meat deficit problem and the initiative if successful, would be replicated in other parts of the country. Mr. Imoro said that the district was among 35 selected districts for the pilot project.

The DCE said according to the project strategy, farmers were expected to give the same quantity of animals that they would receive to different set of farmers after two years. Mr. Imoro indicated that beneficiary farmers had training in animal husbandry training from agriculture extension and veterinary officers to enable them to undertake proper animal rearing and said that the northern part of the country was suitability in livestock production. He said the project would be monitored by the extension and veterinary officers who would visit the farmers to access the impact of the project. The DCE said the policy would be cost effective if properly implemented and help to reduce poverty and improve the lives of farmers adding that farming would also be enhance since the droppings of the animals could serve as manure. Mr. Imoro said the policy was also in-line with government's quest at improving the agricultural sector adding "farming and livestock rearing must go hand in hand". He said that and all farmers had equal chance of benefiting from the policy that sought to improve the lives of the people irrespective of their political affiliation. Mr. Imoro asked farmers who were waiting for their turn to start rearing animals in the own small ways to boost meat production. 9 May 10