Gambaga (N/R), May 4, GNA - The District Chief Executive (DCE) for E= ast Mamprusi, Mr. Adams Imoro, has commended the government for releasing fifteen tractors to farmers in the district as part of measures to mechanized agriculture in the country. He said the tractors which had already been distributed to farmers w= ho made initial deposit payment of GH¢9,000, would be used to upscale thei= r productivity and make farming a business venture that would create more j= obs for the youth.

The DCE was speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Gambaga in the East=

Mamprusi District on Tuesday after handing over the tractors to the farme= rs. He said the remaining GH¢9,000 would be paid in instalments over three years adding, government had also subsidized about thirty per cent of the=

total cost of the tractors to make the tractors affordable to farmers. Mr. Imoro said the government's quest to mechanize agriculture in th= e country was the best way to improve the sector that many Ghanaians engage= in for their livelihoods.

He said some of the farmers had started using the tractors on their farms and had expressed satisfaction at the work rate of the machines with the hope that total yield would be higher that previous ones.

The DCE said maize, millet, sorghum and groundnuts are the main crop= s cultivated in the area and that the tractors acquired as well as the subs= idy on fertilizers would help improve agriculture in the area. He said dry season farming which is an annual activity of the people=

would also be encouraged through rehabilitation of some dams to enable farmers reach their optimum.