The youth in four communities of the Wa East District has appealed to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), to assist them to undertake dry season farming along the Kulun River.

From Yayuobe, Kulun, Yala No.1 and Yala No.2, the youth said they were interested in undertaking dry season farming using water in the Kulun River, a tributary of the White Volta, to irrigate their farms but lacked resources, improved seeds, farm inputs and tractor service to start with.

Making the appeal at Yayuobe, a spokesperson, Mr Bawa Najuah, said they had realised that they could use the water in the river to produce butternut squash, onions, maize, vegetables, groundnuts and beans, watermelon and green pepper during the dry season to sell to gain some income.

He pleaded with SADA to undertake feasibility studies on the river and, if found suitable for irrigation purpose, SADA could support them to undertake the project.

He said many youth in the area had been migrating to urban centres during the dry season in such of greener pastures, while others had made illegal mining their main business, resulting in the death and maiming of several of them.

The project, he said, if implemented, would make the youth more productive and contribute their quota to development as well as help to open up the area to investors.

“Right now, only alien Fulani herdsmen and their cattle are utilising the water, while the youth in the communities are idling. Some youth are also spending their pastime in game and wildlife and destroying the environment with bush fires,” Mr Najuah said.