Nadowli (UWR), Sept. 18, GNA - About 614 youth have cultivated 1,536 acres of land for maize production under Government's "Block Farm Project" in the Nadowli District this year.

The crops are said to be performing well and if the rains did not stop abruptly there would be bumper harvest of maize in the area, Mr Abu Kansangbata Nadowli District Chief Executive has said. Mr Kansangbata announced this at the second session of the fourth general meeting of the Nadowli District Assembly at Nadowli. He said World Vision Ghana, a Non Governmental Organisation in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, provided training for 100 livestock and poultry farmers in the district. A guinea fowl farm has been established and stocked with 100 improved breed to enhance the livelihoods of the farmers. Mr Kansangbata said, the NGO had trained farmers on animal traction and also supported them with bullocks and ploughs among other items to help to expand their farms and other farming activities. Mr James Konogini, Nadowli District Director of Agriculture told the Ghana News Agency that 168 acres of land had been cultivated for sorghum, 19 acres of soyabeans, 55 acres for maize seed and eight acres for rice seed under the "Block Farm" project. He said extension officers from the Ministry were monitoring the farms effectively to ensure good yields and avoid post harvest losses among farmers.

On the Mutual Health Insurance, Mr Kansangbata announced that 24,180 National Health Insurance Identity Cards had been processed and distributed to clients. He said the Scheme had also received GH¢738,689.07 from the National Health Insurance Authority and paid GH¢968,148.27 to service providers. Mr Kansangbata entreated members of the Assembly to encourage their people to always renew their registration with the scheme when their cards expire.