Under the Nkoko Nketenkete project, poultry producers in the Bono East Region’s Nkoranza North Municipality have pleaded with the government to provide more chicks in order to help more local farmers.
While visiting a few farms in Nkoranza, the farmers told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that while the program was praiseworthy and inviting, more farmers in the region should take advantage of it to support the expansion of the chicken industry.
Over 50,000 farmers in the region have registered with the directorate thus far to take advantage of government agriculture intervention programs, according to Mr. Joshua Yaw Jejija, Acting Nkoranza North Municipal Director of Agriculture.
Only around 10,000 of the registered poultry producers, he stated, had profited from the free distribution of the birds, feed, and other necessities for caring for the animals. The birds were distributed to 200 households, each of which received 50 chicks.
According to Mr. Jejija, the Municipality has also been chosen to develop a Farmer Service Center, and no acres of land have been purchased for the project.
About 10,000 farmers, he said, have signed up to take advantage of the Feed Ghana program for crop cultivation, aquaculture, and animal production, with 5,000 of them registering for the Nkoko Nketenkete initiative.
Mr. Jejija voiced alarm about the effects of climate change showing themselves in unfavourable weather, claiming that the region’s agricultural was being impacted by the unpredictable weather, irregular rains, and intense heat.
He said that the lack of markets was also hindering farming operations in the municipality and urged the government and stakeholders to help the farmers with ready markets.
Mr. Jejija urged the government to provide the directorate with sufficient resources, citing staffing shortages and a lack of vehicles and motorcycles to enable efficient oversight and surveillance.
When contacted, Mr. Godfred Dapaah, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Nkoranza North, expressed gratitude to the government for its efforts to improve the socioeconomic well-being of the people and farmers. He also promised that the government would provide more birds to the farmers in the upcoming phase of the Nkoko Nketenkete initiative and encouraged recipients to take good care of the birds.
He urged the populace to help the government in advancing the “reset” Ghana agenda in order to enhance society for all. He claimed that greater health and educational facilities, as well as the road and agricultural sectors, have improved the people’s lot.
Source: newsthemegh.com