Forikrom (B/A) Jan. 8 GNA - Nana Kwao Adams, Twafohene of Forikrom in the Brong-Ahafo Region, has been elected national chairman of the Ecumenical Association for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (ECASARD).

The Chief, who is also Director of Abrono-Organic Project in Techiman Municipality in the region, was elected at the fifth national delegates' conference in Accra.

Dr. K.N. Mfodwor, E.P. Church, Ho, farms was also elected as the vice-chairman of association at the conference which was attended by seven delegates, one each from Ashanti, Western, Brong-Ahafo, Eastern, Greater Accra, Volta and Central regions of ECASARD operational areas. Dr. King David Amoah, National Co-ordinator of ECASARD said these at a meeting with members of Abrono-organic project at Forikrom, near Techiman at the weekend.

He said ECASARD would seek to re-enforce and enhance the efforts of members in sustainable agriculture and rural development through gender sensitive networking, capacity building and advocacy in collaboration with other stakeholders.

Dr. Amoah expressed the hope that small-scale farmers would have absolute access to appropriate information and capacity building to enhance their production system and other sources of income. He said this would be supported by favourable policies of major institutions to promote the living standards of farmers.

Mr Ingo Stung, counterpart co-ordinator of ECASARD in Ghana, called on members of the Association to participate in the activities of ECASARD to enhance productivity.

The out-going chairman, Mr. Philip Adusei Poku, thanked members for their co-operation during his tenure of office and pledged his support for the new executives.

Nana Kwao Adams gave the assurance that he would work tirelessly towards the implementation of the decentralization ECASARD's work by resourcing all regional offices.

He appealed to members to unite to work towards an association that could work hard to meet the demands of people in the rural areas. Since ECASARD started its operations in 1991 in the seven southern regions of the country, it has more than 105 member organizations including service providers, target beneficiaries, community based organizations and non-governmental organizations, with the target beneficiaries being farmer groups and associations.