MIXED FORTUNES OF AGRIC IN ASHANTI THIS SEASON

-

                      
The Ashanti region has recorded a mixed fortune in agricultural production this season as a result of various factors.According to the Regional Director of Agriculture, Kwaku Mintah Fordjour, while there have been significant increases in livestock, root tuber and plantain production, yields of the cereals particularly maize has seen a decline due to the erratic rainfall pattern. 

Speaking in an interview with Ashanti Today in Kumasi, the Regional Director disclosed that the poultry sub-sector has recorded about a 500 thousand increase in the production of broilers alone, with seven thousand pigs produced between May and October this year. 

The achievement is greatly attributable to certain deliberate government policy interventions such as the provision of credit facilities for the poultry and livestock production. 

Additionally, it is now a policy that importers of chicken must procure at least 40 per cent of the requirement from local sources before they could be permitted to import the remaining quantity. 

On crop production, Mr. Fordjour said there is an indication that the production of cocoyam, cassava, yam and plantain would exceed that of last season. 

On the other hand, there is likely to be a reduction in the quantity of the cereals especially maize, to be produced this season, basically due to the irregular rainfall pattern. 

Mr. Fordjour explained that whereas the cereals require relatively much water for good yield, the roots and tubers as well as the plantain need moderate amount of water to do well. 

The Regional Agric Director disclosed that the focus of his directorate in succeeding years is to give greater attention to early maturing maize, cocoyam, cassava and yam which are not seriously affected by erratic rainfall. 

Another priority of the Agric directorate is to motivate farmers to adopt and cultivate drought-resistant crops so as to mitigate the possible negative effects of the weather, particularly due to the climate change on food production.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

JUTE FACTORY IS BACK

-
Image
the administrative block under rehabilitation At long last, the much talked about defunct GIHOC Fibre manufacturing Company popularly known as the Jute Factory, is to be back in operations very soon.  Ashanti Today can confirm that work is feverishly ongoing towards the revival of the once golden sacks manufacturing company with the first production expected in the first quarter of next year.  It is a public-private partnership with a wholly Ghanaian company, Jute Mills Ghana Limited being the operator and has already sunk about five million Ghana Cedis to revamp the company.  The Jute Factory is located within the industrial area of Kaase.  It has been on divestiture for about 20 years now with successive governments paying lip-service to revamp it.   The old machinery at main factory to be replaced soon  It is one project that is dear to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu, who has used almost every opportunity with business people and investors wh
Read more

THE STATE OF KUMASI'S 'INDUSTRIAL AREA

-
The once Industrial enclave of the Ashanti region within the Kumasi metropolis is fast losing its status as the nerve centre of jobs for the people.     This is due to the collapse of most of the companies in quick succession in  the last few years for various reasons. Background Industrialization was a key component of the first wholly indigenous government of Ghana led by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The Ashanti region was not left out in this drive which was meant to create decent jobs for the residents, particularly the youth.  Asokwa, Ahinsan, Kaase, Atonsu and Kyirapatre were the communities that became what is known as the ‘Industrial Area’ of Ashanti from the early 60s.  The christening of this enclave as the ‘Industrial Area’ was the people’s appreciation of the numerous state and privately owned companies that were sited there.  These communities fall within present day Asokwa Constituency which is in the western part of the metropolis from the Accra d
Read more

KWAMANG SHS NEEDS URGENT HELP

-
Image
New Campus of the Kwamang Presby SHS The Kwamang Presby Senior High/Technical School in the Sekyere Central district of Ashanti needs an urgent external intervention to address some of its pressing basic needs to function very well.  A visit by Ashanti Today to the school’s premises revealed that the school does not have an administrative block to administer affairs of the school for which reason the Headmistress, the Bursar and another staff are sharing one room which has been partitioned, while the Assistant Headmaster, the rest of the Accounts staff among other administrative officers are also working from an improvised classroom. Anybody who visits the Kwamang Presby Senior High Technical school for the first time will unavoidably take it for a basic school.  This is more so when it appears to be perching on the premises of the local Junior High School as its old site.  The school is wallowing in a myriad of challenges that are seriously militating against
Read more