Manso-Hwediem (ER), August 11, GNA - Farmers in the country have been advised to abandon obsolete farming methods and adopt modern agricultural practices to boost food and livestock production for local consumption and export.

The Project Manager of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)/MiDA) Agricultural project in the Afram Basin Zone, Mr Samuel Asante-Mensah, who made the call, said there was also the need to support farmers, post-harvest facilities, farming tools, fertilizers and funds .

He was addressing members of Farmer Based Organization, in the Asakraka Asikam area when he inspected a demonstration maize farm at Manso Hwediem, near Asikam in the Kwahu East District.

He said ADRA in collaboration with Agriserve, an agriculture company, had made available 93pioneer maize" hybrid seed imported from USA, to farmers in the Zone for cultivation under the MiDA project to increase maize production in the country.

The Deputy Project Manager of the Zone, Mr Tony Manu, said the hybrid maize, which is drought resistant, could yield 42 bags per acre and could be purchased by livestock farmers to increase livestock production.

He advised the general public to consume more yellow maize since it contains vitamin A.

The Afram Basin Zonal Manager of MiDA, Mr Arku Kelly, said the objective of the project was to train farmers to adopt improved method of farming to increase food produced to eradicate poverty and hunger in the country.

The farmers told GNA said they appreciate modern farming techniques as a means to increase food production and eradiate poverty.