Keta (V/R), Nov. 25, GNA - A number of groups and individual farmers in the Keta District are to benefit from various micro-finance schemes by way of ensuring continuous support for small-scale farmers, fishermen and processors.

The schemes include the Village Infrastructural Project (VIP, Small-Scale Credit Input Supply and Marketing (SCIMP) and the Senior Minister's Special Programme for Poverty Alleviation, which together had brought credits and inputs worth over one billion cedis into the Keta District to cover over 500 persons.

The newly appointed Keta District Chief Executive, Mr. Edward Kofi Ahiabor announced this at the 20th celebration of the National Farmer's Day at Dzelukope-Keta last Friday.

Mr. Ahiabor further announced that the government had ordered a large consignment of equipment into the country for the hygienic processing of cassava, vegetables and fruits into forms that could last longer.

The DCE said that the Keta District was allocated a copious share of this equipment to help the farmers attain a sustainable food efficiency target set by the government.

Mr. Ahiabor, a soil scientist and tube-well irrigation expert, assured the farmers of putting his expertise freely at their disposal to speed up production of shallot, tomato, pepper and sugar-cane in large quantities for export in the District.

The DCE who is also contesting the NPP parliamentary seat for Anlo constituency, appealed for calm and self-restraint during the political campaigns to ensure peaceful, fair and free elections. The overall District Best Farmer award went to Mr. Sam Kwame Adisenu, who took home a certificate in addition to a bicycle, knapsack sprayer, wax print, a wall-clock, a pair of Wellington boots, two cutlasses and an agro-chemical.

There were other 15 award winners including two institutions in the areas of vegetable, animal and fish farming.

Earlier in his welcoming address, Torgbi Dzelu IV, Dufiaga of Dzelukope noted that the tube-well irrigation technology, masterminded by the newly appointed DCE, Mr. Ahiabor had made it possible to put sandy and uplands areas under cultivation of crops. He observed that with the ascendancy of Mr. Ahiabor to the position of DCE, farming and fishing activities in the District would increase, bringing economic relief to the people.

The District Director of Agriculture, Mr. Setor Avorkeh advised the farmers to take advantage of the favourable political climate and irrigation technology to go into serious farming to retain the position of Keta District as the largest vegetable producer.