Government Agriculture flagship programme, Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), has attracted 7, 276 farmers in Upper Manya Krobo District since its introduction in April, 2017, the District Chief Executive of the area has noted.
He made the revelation when addressing the Konor of Manya Krobo Traditional Area during his tour to Asesewa on Friday.
In his key note address, Hon Felix Odjao Nartey revealed that in 2019, a total of 3, 170 farmers had benefited from the programme.
Comprising of 254 rural communities, Upper Manya Krobo District has a population of 72, 092, according to the 2010 housing and population census.
Planting for Food and Jobs which is expected to transform the fortunes of Agriculture in Ghana, was launched in April, 2017 by President Akufo Addo in Goaso in the now Ahafo Region.
The programme among other things supplies farm resources such as high yielding and improved seedlings to patronaging farmers and also sells fertilizers at a 50% subsidized price.
The farmers in Upper Manya who are mainly crop farmers, cultivate maize, cassava, yam, plantain and vegetables
Hon Felix Odjao Nartey, however, bemoaned the intentional fire outbreaks that destroy farms in his district. He cautioned hunters and people who deliberately set fire for their personal gains to desist from such act since he has charged the security agencies and dadematseme to blow the whistle on anyone found in the act.
Free Senior High School
The former Asesewa Senior High School tutor, Hon Felix Odjao noted that the school is currently populated with over 2, 500 students being beneficiaries of government Free Senior High School Programme.
He encouraged all parents to ensure their children are in school to benefit fully the government social intervention initiative.
Nene Sakite II, the Konor for Manya Krobo whose gathering the DCE was addressing, asked Senior High School students to take their studies serious and that he has signed agreement with the University of Ghana to grant full scholarship to at least, 15 best performing Krobo SHS graduates commencing from 2020/2021 academic year.
Government having decentralized its scholarship program, the district has granted scholarship to 67 tertiary students pursuing various academic programmes in various tertiary institutions.
“In 2019, 67 of our tertiary students received scholarship with lowest being eight hundred Ghana Cedis and three thousand Ghana Cedis being the highest,” Hon Odjao Felix noted.
Community Water Supply
A total of 21 and 64 boreholes including mechanized ones were sunk and repaired respectively for communities in the district. Some of the beneficiary communities are Takloase, Odotorm, Kolewa, Zutsum, Fantem, Sutapong and Small Town Water System which bears standing pipes for the people of Anyoboni.
The DCE, Mr Felix Odjao Nartey who admitted the district has water problem, has assured potable water shall reach the homes of residents in the district.
Electricity Supply
Regarding electricity supply, the DCE said 65 of the over 200 rural communities are connected to the National power supply.
Some communities connected were Brepaw Kpeti, Aboasa, Akohia North and South, Legoso, Teyi, Kumakuma, Azakpa Kope, Kuabia, Batorkope and Kubia Asasehene among others.
Source: ritefmonline.org
