Keta, Nov 13, GNA - A Hi-Tech Vegetable Processing Plant would soon be established by the government in the Keta District to process vegetables to offset the perennial post-harvest loses. The multi-purpose equipment acquired under the Rural Enterprise Development Project has the capacity for processing 15,000 metric tons of shallots, 900 metric tons of tomato and 240 metric tons of pepper. Mr Edward Ahiabor, the new Keta District Chief Executive, who announced this at this year's Keta District Farmers Awards Day on Friday at Dzelukope, said vegetable production in the area has shot up with more farmers using tube well irrigation in upland areas in addition to the lagoon areas.

He said 1,000 hectares of land is currently under irrigation in the depressions along the lagoon and near the coast and another 500 under tube well irrigation in the upland area.

In all, 15 farmers and fishermen and two institutions were presented with awards with the overall District Best Farmer going to Mr Sam Kwame Adisenu, 44.

He received a bicycle, a knapsack sprayer, a full piece wax print, a pair of Wellington boots, a wall clock, cutlasses and a bottle of sulphur insecticide and a certificate.

The remaining 14 winners received cutlasses, pairs of Wellington boots, wall clocks, wax prints and cutlasses.

The DCE said the district has also received from the government two-cassava processing machines, a cassava grater, a double screw press, a solar dryer for pepper, cassava chips and ginger production to increase agro-business to increase incomes to alleviate poverty in the district.

Mr Ahiabor said fish production in the district this year has also gone up. Lagoon fishing produced 6,000 metric tons mainly of shellfish and shrimps, while the sea fishing yielded 9,379 metric tons.

MOFA Marks A Joint Volta Regional and Ketu District Farmers' Day

Avalavi (V/R), Nov 13, GNA - Twenty-four farmers from the Volta Region and 20 from the Ketu District were on Friday awarded at a joint regional and Ketu District Farmers' Day Celebration at Avalavi in the Ketu District.

The Regional Day, postponed to pave way for the National Celebration, was planned to coincide with that of Ketu District. Fifty-six-year-old Mr John Aflo from Mafi-Tove in the North-Tongu District emerged the Regional Best Farmer and received a corn mill, a radio cassette player, Wellington boots, a sewing machine, a wax print, six machetes and a certificate.

The remaining regional award winners received certificates, cutlasses, and Wellington boots, spraying machines, cooking utensils, wax prints, radio cassette players and bicycles.

Mr. Henry Kudzo, 44, from Xife was adjudged the District Best Farmer and received a certificate, a bicycle, Wellington boots, wax print, two litres insecticides, and cutlasses.

Other remaining district award winners had certificates, Wellington boots, wax prints, plastic chairs, gaslights, corks and twines.

Mr. Kofi Dzamesi, the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, appealed for the adoption of the Comparative Advantage and Resource Endowment Concept (CAREC) by the region and its districts.

He said the concept allows for concentration and specialization in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural produce. Mr Dzamesi expressed regret at the lack of interest of farmers in the region in accessing a CIDA fund aimed at improving rural development through agriculture particularly in agro-processing, improved grain drying and storage and market development.

Mr. Linus Koffie, Ketu District Chief Executive, appealed to farmers and the youth in the district to take advantage of 1.8 billion cedis allocated to the district for the youth, vegetable gardeners and fishermen to access.