Business News of Friday, 22 August 2014

Source: GNA

Need for farmers to unite and cooperate – NGO

Madam Juliette Lampoh, Country Director of Concern Universal, a UK-based NGO has urged farmers to unite and cooperate to share ideas and improve on their operations.

She stressed the need for farmers’ marketing committees to keep accurate records on their operations to acknowledge their challenges and successes.

Madam Lampoh made the call when addressing about 100 Smallholder Farmers at a workshop to adopt marketing strategies to improve on their operations at Nkoranza.

The farmers were drawn from Nkoranza Municipality, Nkoranza North District and Ejura-Sekyedumase District.

She said marketing committees should in addition, establish effective communication links with their members to keep them abreast with improved and ready market for their produce.

Mr Edwin Osei Attafoe, Project Coordinator of Concern Universal advised farmers to interact with inputs dealers, agricultural extension officers and financial institutions to ensure effective cordial relationship to win their support and expand their operations.

He urged the farmers to construct proper storage facilities for their produce to enhance the life span of their products to attract improved prices and check against post-harvest losses.

Concern Universal, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), which operates in five regions in the country, is concerned with development programmes such as livelihood and food security, governance and micro-finance to improve the living standard of rural dwellers.

The five regions, in which Concern Universal operates are Brong Ahafo, Upper West and Upper East, Northern and Eastern regions.