Assin Akrofuom (C/R), Dec. 9, GNA - The Assin South District Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture covered 31,000 hectares of cocoa, exceeding the 25,000 hectare target set for districts in the mass cocoa spraying exercise by 6,000 hectares during the first round of the exercise.

Mr Philip K. Awuah, District Director of Food and Agriculture, who announced this at the 23rd National Farmers' Day at Assin Akrofuom said 56 gangs, made up of seven members each were formed to undertake the exercise and commended them for their hard work and the farmers for their co-operation and support.

On other achievements by the Directorate, Mr Awuah said 800 people had benefited from the Youth in Agriculture programme since its inception in 2005 and were supported with inputs and cash loans amounting to GH=A2120 for every hectare of land cropped. He, however, expressed disappointment about the recovery rate of the loans and appealed to chiefs, assembly members and other opinion leaders to impress upon the beneficiaries to pay back the loans in time for others to benefit to sustain the programme in the District. Mr Awuah said eight farm-based organisations benefited from gari and oil palm processing equipment under the Food and Agriculture Budgetary Support (FABS) while four other groups also benefited from the Land and Water Management programme to help sustain the environment. Ms Millicent Alice Kuranchie, District Chief Executive, commended farmers in the area for increasing production this year. She attributed the success story to the farmers' acceptance and implementation of policies of the Ministry.

"I am convinced that the agricultural sector can change our way of life and standard of living," she stated.

She appealed to chiefs to release land for the Agriculture Module of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).

The DCE advised the youth to take to farming, saying, "success in life is dependent on perseverance determination and hard work but not the type of job one does. We have successful farmers who are world class millionaires."

Mr Ignatius Kofi Korsah from Assin Dominase was adjudged the overall best farmer and was presented with a tri-cycle fixed with a boot for carrying farm produce, which was donated by Zoom Lion Limited, a private sanitation company, a packet of roofing sheets, Knapsack sprayer, a piece of cloth a quantity of agro-chemicals and other items. In all 25 farmers including a physically challenged, a basic school and some non-traditional crop farmers were awarded. Obarimba Kwame Nkyi IV, Omanhene of Assin Apimanim, who chaired the function commended farmers for feeding the nation under difficult conditions. 09 Dec. 07

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