The International Institute for Ecological Agriculture (IIEA) of California and the Kumasi Institute of Tropical Agriculture (KITA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly implement a farm improvement programme in the Ejisu-Juaben District.

Projects earmarked for execution under the programme are bio-fuel development, rural housing scheme, water security and environmental conservation as well as agro-processing ventures.

Dr Noah Owusu-Takyi, Director of KITA and Mr Samuel Owusu-Takyi, a Senior Technical Officer at the KITA, told the GNA that the projects would make farming more business-like.

He said KITA had acquired about four hectares in readiness for the implementation of the projects that would take-off soon at Essienimpong in Ashanti Region on pilot basis.

Dr Owusu-Takyi said the IIEA had agreed to provide the relevant funding and technical support for the projects while KITA would provide information and organise local resources for the venture.

He said the district assembly had agreed to commit 5,000 dollars in support of the projects and invited Mr David Blume, President/Executive Director of IIEA, to visit Ghana by the end of February to prepare the grounds for take-off of the programme.

Dr Owusu-Takyi said under the first phase that would follow immediately after the pilot scheme, water and housing units would be delivered to 4,000 families.

"Thereafter, local industries will be set up in the farming communities that will process cassava into ethanol for the production of diesel-fuel while the by-products of the cassava go for the production of mushrooms and cattle feed."