Wa (Upper West), 23rd June 99 ?



About 200 farmers from 15 farming groups in the Wa district were given a total of 42.1 million cedis as loans under the International Funds for Agricultural Development (IFAD) facility during the last farming season benefited from the scheme.

Giving a breakdown of the beneficiaries, Mr Baba Dimbie, Wa district liaison officer of the National Mobilisation Programme, (NMP) told the GNA that three mobisquads, with a membership of 55, were given loans totalling 12.7 million cedis, under the IFAD's food production component.

Three other mobisquads, whose 50 members are involved in the marketing of farm produce, had 10 million cedis, while eight other groups engaged in food processing, received 19.5 million cedis.

The district liaison officer disclosed that 66 women were also given 3.7 million cedis from the Wa district assembly's poverty alleviation scheme to undertake income-generating ventures.

Mr Dimbie said 30 youths have also received three million cedis, under the Youth in Agriculture programme, but called for an increase in the fund to enable more unemployed youth to benefit from the scheme.