Bee keepers in Nkoranza and Techiman municipalities have lauded efforts by Nkoranza Municipal and Nkoranza North District Assemblies in fighting bushfires in their areas.

The Nkoranza and Techiman Bee Keepers Association (NATBA) said, decisions taken by the two Assemblies to implement the District Environmental Action Plans as well as arranging incentive packages for bushfire volunteers were appreciable.

Mr. Richard Okoe, President of NATBA, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Monday that the Assemblies had also agreed to amend the bushfire bye-laws to ensure enforcement.

He said the two Assemblies took the decision at a meeting at which the Association briefed members on a research it conducted in the two areas.

The research, conducted within six months and funded by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC), revealed that bushfire was the major challenge of farmers.

Mr. Okoe said, bushfires had become an annual ritual in the two districts and farmers, especially bee keepers, incurred huge losses every crop season as their farms were destroyed by fire.

He said food production would increase tremendously if bushfires were brought under control.

Mr. Gabriel Gbiel Bernakuu, service provider for the Association, expressed satisfaction that the two Assemblies had continued to engage farmer-based groups in dialogue for the enhancement of local economic development.**