Sorbelle (U/W), Dec. 10, (Credit Ali Tahiru), GNA - Mr. Robert Wave= i, the Sissala West District Chief Executive, has expressed concern about th= e high rate of smuggling of agricultural inputs such as subsidized fertiliz= er and fuel through the district to Burkina Faso.

He appealed to people to desist from the habit or be prepared to fa= ce the consequences when tracked down by the security agencies. Mr. Wavei said this at the Farmers' Day celebration in the district= at Sorbelle during which 25 outstanding farmers in the district were given awards. He appealed to traditional authorities to do away with negative practices that tended to affect the growth and development of children. "It is regrettable for children to die from malnutrition in communit= ies where there is abundance of foods."

"The belief that children who eat eggs will grow up to become thieve= s is untenable. It is about time these beliefs are discarded." Mr. Wavei spoke about the relevance of peace to the development of the district and urged all to be law abiding to ensure lasting peace in the area. Mr. Adamu Seidu, the District Director of Agriculture, said his outfit distributed 12,000 coupons of subsidized fertilizer to farmers dur= ing this year's farming season. A 45-year-old farmer, Tahiru Meke from Jawia, was adjudged the district's best farmer and he took home a motorcycle, a piece of wax prin= t, cutlasses and a certificate as his prize.