Akrokyere (Ash), Dec. 15, GNA 96 Mr Philip Basoah, Sekyere East District Chief Executive, has urged farmers in the area not only to rely on traditional crops but also on other economic crops like Jathropha (Nkrangyedua), a well-known potential energy source.

He said the economic importance to extract bio-diesel from the plant has resulted in the selection of the district among five others in the country for its large-scale production, adding that 300 farmers had been registered in 45 communities for the cultivation of the plant. The DCE said this at the district's celebration of the 22nd Farmers Day at Akrokyere near Effiduase. Mr Basoah announced that 400 acres of land were cultivated for maize this year as against 150 acres in 2005 while 73 acres of land were used on soybean cultivation and advised chiefs to release land to prospective farmers.

He said 20 youth groups of about 140 people have been formed for the Youth Employment Programme and their application for loans processed.

He decried the negative attitude of some spraying gangs on the mass cocoa spraying exercise who adulterate the chemicals meant for cocoa spraying or in some cases sell them to farmers. Miss Mary Gelley, District Director of Agriculture, urged the farmers to take advantage of all agricultural ventures coming into the district like Jathropha, oil palm and soybean cultivation to enable them reduce poverty thereby improving upon their standard of living. She was not happy about the inaccessibility of financial assistance to farmers and attributed it to the non-payment of loans granted them by the banks.

Mr Kwasi Badu of Kumawu-Abotanso was adjudged the District Best Farmer. He received a 14-inch colour television set, six yards of cloth, a pair of Wellington boots, agro-chemicals and 20 cutlasses. Several other farmers also received consolation prizes.