Juaso (Ash), Oct 12, GNA - The unavailability of land has emerged a major challenge to the youth in agriculture module of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) in the Asante-Akim South district. Unlike the other modules of the programme already underway about four months ago, lack of land has crippled the commencement of the youth in the agriculture module, which requires land for group farming. Dr Lord Justice Gyamfi-Fenteng, the District Chief Executive, made this known when addressing members of the Koikrom Food Farmers Co-operative Society at the inauguration of a 70 million-cedi truck purchased by the society at Juaso.

The truck, which was partly funded by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) under the Food and Agriculture Budgetary Support Fund was to facilitate easy transportation of food crops of the society to market centres.

The three-year-old society with 30 members is currently engaged in the cultivation of about 1,000 hectares of cocoyam and plantain. Dr Gyamfi-Fenteng said, but for the land constraint the youth in agriculture module had the potential of providing employment opportunities for a large number of youth.

He appealed to landowners to release them to the programme for the benefit of the district and urged the youth to avail themselves of the programme.

The DCE entreated the society to adhere to directives of MOFA officials to ensure higher yields and also maximise profit. He commended the society for their enormous achievements over the short period they embarked on the project, adding that it demonstrated the essence of togetherness.

Mr Samuel Adu Nyarko, the chairman of the society on behalf of the group, expressed gratitude to the district assembly for the immense assistance offered them. He called for the formation of such groups throughout the district to help reduce poverty. 12 Oct. 06