Dekpor-Horme, Jan 16, GNA - An assemblyman has appealed to the government to consider replicating the Afife Rice Project at the Kpli Valley near Klenormadi in the Ketu District.

Mr Joseph Adukpo, the Assemblyman for the Agorvi area, made the call in an interview with the GNA at the weekend at Dekpor-Horme where the chiefs and people celebrated their maiden "Morluza" (rice festival) instituted to market the community as a major rice producing area. Mr Adukpo said the Kpli valley project, which could source water from the Adzoatsi dam serving the Afife farms, would ease demands for irrigated land in the Afife farm, increase rice production and economic activity in the area.

He said though the Afife farmland space had increased to 880 hectares, it would be inadequate for the increased farmer population in the area after the current rehabilitation works that would enable farmers to produce twice a year.

Mr Adukpo also called for compensation for the people of Adzortsi, Dekpor, Togbeve, Djove and Larve whose farms and buildings were destroyed during the construction of the dam serving the Afife irrigation farm.

Mr Justice Cudjoe, the Ketu District Chief Executive, appealed to the people to sustain the festival, organise their people and initiate development projects to help them lessen pressure on the scarce funds of the assembly.

He expressed regret for the litigation over ownership of a dam by Ohawu and Kporkuve communities, stalling the naming of the rehabilitated dam and its economic use.

The dam is located between the two communities.

Mr James Avedzi, the Member of Parliament for Ketu-North, donated 100 bags of cement from his share of the Common Fund for the completion of a place of convenience in the town.

He also gave some exercise books to junior secondary school students in the constituency and appealed to the district assembly to avoid delaying MPs share of the Common Fund.

A total of 6.5 million cedis was realized during an appeal for funds.