Bador-Tampizua(UER), Feb. 15, GNA - Mr. Boniface Gambilla, Upper East Regional Minister has inaugurated a wind-pump irrigation facility estimated at about one billion cedis at Bador-Tampizua, near Bawku. The facility, with a 16-hectare irrigable land would provide farmers in the area an all-year-round farming season. Equipped with two reservoirs and a back-up generator, the facility would also supply potable water to the community.

Mr. Gambilla said Government had implemented practical down-to-earth polices to modernise agriculture with the importation of tractors and provision of credit facilities to farmers to boost food production and ensure food security for the nation. He said other polices to make agriculture attractive to the youth and the disabled were in the offing and called on them to take advantage of the policies to improve on their standard of living. Mr. Gambilla warned managements of rural banks against withholding credit facilities for farmers to discredit the Government for political reasons.

"Banks identified for keeping Government funds for credit to farmers would be closed down," He warned.

The Upper East Regional Minister, called on the management committee of the facility to liaise with the farmers to ensure efficient use of the facility to improve the social and economic status of the community.

Mr. Abdul-Rahman Gumah, Bawku Municipal Chief Executive, said four irrigation dams were being rehabilitated within the municipality to afford hard working farmers an opportunity to increase production to sustain their families and the nation.

He said for an effective use of the facility, communities along riverbanks would be provided with watering pumps at affordable prices on hire purchase and advised the farmers to take advantage of the facility. Mr. Gumah urged the community take full control and ownership of the facility to manage it well and ensure its life span was prolonged and sustained for their livelihood.

Mr. Brown Opam, National Co-ordinator of Community-Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP), said his outfit was ready to liaise with communities that were prepared to develop through self-help initiatives. Mr. Mahama Issifu, assemblyman for the area, appealed for the construction of accessible roads to link the village to enable farmers market their produce to derive maximum use of the facility to improve on their living standards. 15 Feb. 06