The Nanumba North Municipality in the Northern Region has recovered only GHC 4,556.40 representing just 2% of GHC252,765.20 expected to be retrieved from farmers in the area who registered under the government’s flagship program, “Planting for Food and Jobs” in the 2017 farming season.
This was disclosed by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Assembly, Abdulai Yaqoub at the second ordinary meeting of the municipality.
He said over 2,000 farmers were registered but only a few of them have made their payments.
[contextly_sidebar id=”mS44qhb5TXzxdjoNAVws1xI0c3WobVbk”]The MCE described the situation as worrying, and said it could affect the fortunes of the program in the area.
He, therefore, appealed to the farmers to pay their monies to ensure the success of the program in the municipality.
He said registrations for the 2018 season have commenced and so far 2,000 farmers have been registered, and they will receive inputs for the cultivation of maize, rice and soya beans.
He urged the Department of Agriculture to sensitise the farmers and encourage them to pay the amounts they owe.
The Municipal Agricultural Officer said this year, all farmers will be compulsorily registered onto the project to buy seeds from the department before they can buy the fertiliser.
He said this was because farmers who took part in the 2017 season complained of the low quality of seeds which resulted in low yield hence their difficulty in making their payments.
He, therefore, said it is going to be mandatory for all who have registered under the program to buy seeds from them.
He further indicated that farmers who have not paid would be pursued to do so.
One-district one-factory
Under the One district, one factory project, the Nanumba North district is constructing a cassava processing factory, which, according to the MCE, is about 90% complete.
He said officials from One District, One Factory desk of the Ministry of Trade and Industry inspected and expressed satisfaction with the level of work.
Over 150 acres of cassava have been cultivated in the area to ensure availability of raw materials for the factory throughout the year.
The municipality has also established a cashew nursery under the District Centre for Agriculture, Commence and Technology (DCACT) and is expected to nurse a total of 90,000 seedlings for some selected communities to undertake the planting.
A total of 68000 seedlings have so far been nursed and are ready for grafting.
On security, the MCE commended the security agencies for maintaining relative peace in the municipality.
He also congratulated the Northern Regional Peace Council for promoting the peace agenda in the area.
He further urged members of the assembly to play their roles in a way to ensure that the safety of residents.
“The security agencies have intensified their patrols to ensure that nothing untoward happens. The Northern Regional Peace Council has also scaled up its efforts at bringing lasting peace to Bimbilla by engaging the key traditional actors in the whole affair. And it is encouraging to note that the key actors have agreed to play lead roles in ensuring peace before and after the verdict of the supreme court on the matter.”
He urged any aggrieved parties in the dispute to explore the appropriate options in expressing their concerns rather than resorting to violence when they disagree with the outcome of the ruling.
“As the Supreme Court prepares to determine the case, it must be echoed that peace cannot be realised in a chaotic situation and as such any aggrieved party or persons should explore appropriate options in expressing their decent rather than resorting to violence when they disagree with the outcome of the rulings”.
“I want to urged as a house, we should make our voice loud and clear to those out there that the municipality needs absolute peace to be able to attend to the needs of the people and that civil means be adopted in seeking redress,” he said.
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By: Mohammed Aminu M. Alabira/citinewsroom.com/Ghana
