Techiman, (B/A) June 20,GNA- The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), has launched a Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTIMP) at Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region. The RTIMP is aimed at enhancing market relations within the root and tuber commodity chain to ensure a pull factor for increased production and to facilitate the better balancing of supply and demand. It would also sustain the enhancement of farm level productivity of root and tuber crops as well as improve the processing and marketing of the crops, among other benefits.

The beneficiary districts are Asunafo North, Kintampo North, Tano North, Techiman and Wenchi.

Mr. Prince Yaw Doyinah, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Techiman said the Municipality had been identified as one of the major production and marketing centres of Root and Tuber Crops in the country. He said 38 Cassava Secondary Multiplication covering 101,43 hectares were planted during the first phase of the Programme, while 23 cassava processing groups were currently in active operations in the Municipality.

The MCE pointed out that Techiman market has been a major distribution point for cassava and other tuber products to the country as well as neighbouring countries like Togo, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire.

Mr. Doyinah revealed that the major constraints facing root and tuber production are inadequate dissemination of information, which prevents effective integration of the commodity chain and lack of market.

Dr. Oppong Mensah, an official of MOFA noted that the Ministry's objective is to build competitive market based and inclusive root and tuber commodity chains supported by relevant effective and sustainable services delivery mechanisms that are easily accessible by the rural poor.

He urged Ghanaians to adopt the habit of eating local root and tubers more than the foreign ones adding that the attitude if accepted would enhance large scale production of the produce thereby improving the living standards of the rural folks.

Dr. Mensah announced that 180,000 farmers would be supplied with new root and tuber varieties to increase productivity to enable them acquire higher revenues at the farm level.

Mr. Kwaku Anane, Acting National programme Co-ordinator of the Programme said 6,000 farmers would be trained among other subjects on the techniques of improving root and tuber cultivation practices, soil fertility, planting materials multiplication and pest management. Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Regional Minister said the programme was expected to bring great relief to hard working farmers, agro- processors and traders and ensure food security in the Region and improve the livelihoods of the rural poor.

He said root and tuber crops contributed 40 per cent to agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 25 per cent of the overall GDP. Mr. Baffour-Awuah called for emphasis on agriculture as the only way to reduce poverty in Ghana. He expressed the hope that the RTIMP would enhance the overall performance within the root and tuber commodity chain in Ghana with significant changes to the market structure in the rural areas. 21 June 07