Awutu Beraku (C/R) Nov. 13, GNA - Maize and Cassava cultivation in the Effutu municipality and Awutu-Senya district increased this year due to constant education by extension officer of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in the area. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) Director in-charge of the two districts, Mr Gershong Woadzirah said this in an address read at the 24th National Farmers Day organised jointly by the two districts at Awutu Beraku in the Central Region. According to Mr Woadzirah in 2007 farmers in the two districts cropped 18,500 hectares of maize and increased it to 200,000 hectares in 2008.

He said in 2007 a total of 27,000 hectares of cassava was cultivated, but this was increased to 30,000 in 2008. Mr Woadzirah however did not indicate the quantity of maize and cassava that was derived from the farmers. According to the Agricultural Director, three new varieties of high yielding cassava has been introduced and are being multiple for distribution to farmers later. "Generally the weather has been favourable for crop production for the season and I hoped the yield would be good for the major food commodities," Mr Woadzirah said. He said livestock and poultry sectors also saw steady growth and that the district has about 6,000 cattle and 20,000 sheep and goats. Mr Woadzirah said MOFA has for the past three years sold 10 tractors to some farmers on hire purchase and appealed to the beneficiaries who have completed payment to settle their debts for the programme to be extended to other farmers. 13 Nov. 08