The Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) has supported a total of 7,034 farmers in the savannah ecological zone with quantities of farm inputs for the 2012 farming season.

The intervention comprises fertilizers, chemicals and technical services for the cultivation of maize, soya and rice.

SADA has provided more than 100 tractors to farmers to facilitate production and also established an aforestation project as part of efforts to green the ecological zone in tandem with its objective of reducing poverty in the operational area.

Dr. Charles Jebuni, Chief Technical Officer of the Authority made this known in Tamale on Friday, during the inaugural meeting of the Stakeholder Coordinating Committee of SADA, which brought together members of the committee from the five operational regions to deliberate and chat a way forward in the developmental agenda.

The meeting was the first of its kind to be held after the committee was inaugurated earlier this year by the President to oversee the affairs of the pro-poor organisation.

Alhaji Gilbert Seidu Iddi, Chief Executive Officer of SADA indicated that Authority is recruiting highly qualified personalities in four different capacities to provide technical and expert advice to the organisation noting that “it will cost us much money to employ such persons”.

He said SADA had entered into a partnership with some development partners such as DANIDA, USAID, JICA, Africa Development Bank.

Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister who chaired the function said within the short period of the existence of SADA, it had chalked successes noting that its objective of reducing poverty by 20 per cent was achievable.