Tema, Dec 03, GNA - Tema Municipal Poultry and Livestock Farmers Association (TMPLFA) on Tuesday appealed to the government to subsidise its production cost to enhance production.

This is in view of the high cost of materials that go into their Operation, such as wheat bran, high tariffs on utility services, high interest rates and drugs.

Mr. Ellis Aferi, chairman of the Association, made the appeal during the annual general meeting of the Association.

He said each of the current membership of 180 owns about 10,000 pigs, 250 layers and 100,000 birds.

''Their efforts are being thwarted with the importation of foreign products that have flooded the local markets.''

Mr Aferi called for the streamlining of the trade liberalisation policy because it is affecting pricing and marketing strategies in the country.

''We put on the local market high quality sheep, goat, cattle, pigs and birds, yet they do not sell fast as expected because of the imported products and this is gradually frustrating our business.''

He expressed members' concern about the activities of illegal sand winners whose operations destroy their farms and structures and appealed to the Tema Development Corporation and the Tema Municipal Assembly to wage war on them.

Mr Aferi said since its formation three years ago members have raised 110 million cedis, which they used to establish a shop that sell wheat bran.

The Association is seeking 120 million cedi grant from the Farmer Based Organisation fund, while it is expecting another 20,000 dollar from the World Bank and the CIDA for the expansion of their businesses, a proposed secretariat, a warehouse and shop.

Mr Emmanuel Aryee, Tema Municipal Director of Agriculture, said livestock production in the municipality is on the low side and urged members to step up production by venturing into the production of dairy cattle.