Naa Widaana-Nanga II, Paramount Chief of Takpo Traditional Area, has said the provision of farm machinery and extension officers are vital to the development of a community.

The Paramount Chief said real modernization of agriculture should also include adequate agriculture extension officers to provide farmers with up-to-date extension services.

Naa Widaana-Nanga said this when Mr Sulemana Alhassan, the Upper West Regional Minister, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Takpo.

He said unfortunately here in Ghana, agricultural modernization was all about providing farm machinery to the neglect of training of more agricultural extension officers.

“Farmers need information on best methods of planting and when to plant a particular type of crop, use of agro chemicals and general agricultural inputs and other agriculture information which was the domain of extension officers”, Naa Widaana-Nanga said.

The Paramount Chief appealed to government to give priority to the training of more agriculture extension officers to make them available to local farmers, especially in the rural communities.

Naa Widaana-Nanga also appealed for a dam for his community to promote dry season farming since about 90 per cent of the community members were farmers.

He called on the Regional Minister to ensure the extension of electricity to other families in the community since only one person currently enjoyed electricity in the whole community.

Naa Widaana-Nanga also brought to the notice of the Regional Minister two armed robbery cases that happened early this year which constituted a threat to the peace and security of the people hence the need for a police station in the community to protect lives and property.

Mr. Alhassan thanked the chief and assured him that all the matters he raised would be given the needed consideration to improve on the living standards of the people.

The Regional Minister who was on the second day of his familiarisation tour of the region also called on the Paramount Chiefs of Kaleo and Sankana Traditional Areas.