Beahu (W/R), Oct. 17, GNA - Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, on Monday urged farmers to take advantage of the President's Special Initiatives (PSI) to improve their lot. He made the call in an address read for him at the 25th celebration of the World Food Day and the 60th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) at Beahu, near Takoradi. The celebration was on the theme: "Agriculture and Intercultural Dialogue".

Mr Aidoo said the PSI on Cassava, Palm Oil, Cotton and others were to encourage farmers to go into the cultivation of these crops to increase production.

He said it was in line with Millennium Development Goals that the Government was working hard to help farmers in the country to increase food production to feed the people.

Mr Aidoo appealed to researchers in agriculture and agricultural officials in extension services to work out programmes that would impact positively on the country's food production Mr David Okine, Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, said a Research Linkage Dissemination Committee had been formed to inform farmers on research findings, noting that the committee was working on the improvement of tomatoes and plantain production in the Region. He said research was also being conducted on the conversion of cocoa pod into livestock feed.

In an address read for him, Mr Kwesi Biney, Ahanta West District Chief Executive, said more than 60 percent of the population in the District were engaged in agriculture.

He said the District Assembly allocated a considerable chunk of its finances towards the development of agriculture. Mr Biney said it was necessary that agricultural technology be managed within the context of indigenous knowledge.