Wa, Sept 2, GNA - Mr Zinnenuba Lankono, Upper West Regional Director of Ministry of Food and Agriculture, said on Monday that the region would this year record a bumper food harvest.

He said the general acceptance of new farming methods, improved varieties of seed crops and the favourable rainfall pattern is contributory to the high expectations of farmers in the region. Mr Lankono, who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, after a mid-year assessment meeting said cowpea, sorghum, millet, soyabean and yam are the crops likely to exceed their annual target.

He said the rains are moderately spreading out in every month, thereby making it favourable for both the grains and root crops to flourish.

"This year the rains are not too frequent, a situation which is favourable to all kinds of crops, unlike in the previous years where rains were concentrated in certain months," he said.

Mr Lankono said this year many farmers have also gone into rice production because of the government's intentions to reduce the high rate of rice importation.

"Most farmers had abandoned rice production in the region due to inadequate market but the Minister of Food and Agriculture's announcement has encouraged most of them to go back to rice cultivation."

He said livestock production has also improved due to the introduction of foreign breeds of small ruminants and the introduction of chemicals to rid the animals of pests and other diseases that stifle their survival.

The Regional Director however, appealed to the government to rehabilitate feeder roads in the region to facilitate the carting of foodstuffs.