The state in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), is constructing a cattle fodder bank at Wawase in the Afram Plains to reduce conflict between herdsmen and farmers.

The project, which is the fourth of its kind in the region upon completion, would serve as the feeding ground for over 5,000 cattle in the area.

It would be in two phases, the fodder bank and the fire belt, which would ensure the prevention of fire outbreaks.

In an interaction with the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Victor Smith, who was on a familiarization tour in the area, Mr. Kofi Amoako-Tweneboa, the Project Coordinator, disclosed that the project which formed part of the Afram Plains Rural Agriculture Project, was scheduled to be completed by the end of December this year.

Mr. Amoako-Tweneboa said the fodder bank project would help improve livestock activities in the area, improve agriculture and curb misunderstanding between farmers and herdsmen and thereby ensure peace in the area.

“We are registering all Fulani herdsmen in the Afram Plains area in order to ascertain the expected number of cattle to be catered for by this facility, and also educate them on the need to utilize it to avoid livestock straying about and destroying people’s farms and other properties”.

Mr. Smith inspected the one mile square maize plantation of the Savior Church of Ghana in Odumasua, and praised the church for venturing into agriculture to help beef up the country’s food supply.

Mr. Smith reiterated the government’s commitment to improving agriculture and pledged the government’s support to the church.

He also inspected on-going projects which included teacher’s bungalow and six units two storey classroom blocks for the St Fedelis Senior High School and a market with a storage facility at Tease.

He then went on to inspect a 20- seater toilet facility and a cattle market at Maame Krobo.**