Gomoa Eshiem (C/R), Dec. 4, GNA - Government would make available, an amount of GHC 9.3 million, to start a pension scheme for farmers and fishermen, as stated in the 2011 Budget.

An amount of GHC 868,000 has also been set aside for the start of a housing scheme for farmers and fishermen. Mr Francis Kojo Arthur, Member of Parliament (MP) for Gopmoa West, announced this at the celebration of the 26th Farmers Day at Gomoa Eshiem, in the Central Region.

The MP said government had initiated a programme to rehabilitate roads in cocoa growing areas to make the movement of food products and services easier for farmers.

He appealed to the engineers to design roads, which could withstand the weather, saying that, "our roads are too porous to rains". Mr Arthur said COCOBOD had intensified its replanting of over-aged and disease infected cocoa trees across the country. He urged cocoa farmers to increase their production and be encouraged by the new producer price of GHC 200 a bag, to recapture Ghana's former position as the worlds number one producer of cocoa, which she had lost to Cote d' Ivoire.

Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, District Chief Executive said the district had assisted 137 farmers, under the Block Farm Project, introduced last year, to cultivate 223 acres of maize.

He appealed to chiefs and landowners to release lands on reasonable terms for the youth to embrace the project.

Mr Aidoo-Mensah said 17 outboard motors had been allocated to some fishermen in the district on a lease arrangement with the Agricultural Development Bank.

He assured fishermen that their request for additional outboard motors would be met in 2011.

The DCE appealed for peace during the December 28 District Level Elections.

"We must see our people more united them ever after the elections", he said and cautioned political parties to stay clear from the elections since the concept was on non-partisan basis.

Mrs Evelyn Opare, District Director of Agriculture expressed concern about the lack of interest of the youth in agriculture.

"Our farmers are growing old and weak but the youth who are to take over the baton from them are not interested in agriculture," she said and called for concerted efforts to whip-up interest in agriculture.

Mr Emmanuel Sagoe, Gomoa West Constituency Vice-chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was adjudged the overall best farmer.