Agric Extension Officer at the Department of Agric at the Lower Manya Municipal Assembly, Mr. Philip Amoah is satisfied that Ghanaian farmers are very content and excited with the introduction of some new cassava varieties. According to Mr. Amoah, the new varieties, Ampong and Bankyehaa have proven very popular with the farmers who have embraced them whole-heartedly.
Speaking on the Rite Morning Ride, Mr. Amoah iterated that farmers are not only happy with the new varieties but are eager to adopt them in order to boost cassava production in the country.
The extension officer while spelling out the qualities of the new varieties said that they were working on other varieties, a step that is being hindered by the unfavourable climatic conditions. He added that the climate difficulties nonetheless, the department of Agriculture would soon begin the distribution of cassava sticks of the Bankyehemaa and Ampong to the farmers latest by the month of May.
He mentioned farming communities to benefit from the distribution as Apla, Wawase and Obelemanya. Mr. Amoah explained that these communities are the first to benefit due to the fact that the multiplication sight which is about 13 acres in size is located around these areas.
According to him, they were currently targeting about fifty farmers to benefit from the exercise because the crops were doing very well.
He added that the DOA which is undertaking the multiplication initially had a problem with marketing of the cassava of the new variety; now however, he says they are happy with the demand. He praised the new varieties as being of ‘better quality’ than the old verities such as Ankra among others.
Mr. Amoah added that this cassava takes nine to twelve months to mature and very good for such dishes as fufu, gari and many other products derived from cassava.
Source: ritefmonline.org
