ALL is set for the inauguration a milk factory at Juapong. The factory is aimed at improving the economic livelihood of cattle farmers in the North Tongu District in the Volta Region.
A management board has been appointed not only to run the factory, but also to search for public/private partnership to help sustain the venture.
The North Tongu District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Moses Mensah Assem, made this known at the 24th national Farmers Day celebration at Juapong.
Nineteen farmers and institutions received awards for their meritorious work and Mr Ben Nyadiaya of Juapong was adjudged the overall district best farmer.
He was presented with a colour television set, a bicycle, four machetes, a pair of wellington boots, a full piece of wax print, a knapsack sprayer, a radio cassette player, agro-chemicals and a certificate as his prize.
According to Mr Assem, the establishment of the milk factory would go a long way to alleviate the poverty of the cattle farmers and also encourage scientific methods in animal husbandry in the North Tongu District, which has the largest population of cattle in the Volta Region.
The DCE said the district assembly had set up a task force to tackle the problem of cattle rustling in the area, and urged the traditional authorities to co-operate in that direction.
He assured the farmers that the government would continue in making available soft loans, irrigation facilities and other auxiliary services to reduce the high risk in agricultural production.
Mr Assem, therefore, appealed to the government to expedite action on the policy on the re-introduction of subsidies on farming inputs.
He expressed concern about the dismal performance of some road contractors in the district, saying that they used the powers that be in the system to secure jobs only to reach half way and abandon the projects without any tangible reason.
Mr Assem cited an instance when a contractor who was awarded a contract to tar the Juapong town roads abandoned the project, while another contractor also abandoned a road project.
He said the attitude of some contractors was thwarting the laudable initiative of the
government and dampening the spirit of the people.
In his address, the District Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Seth R. Addey, said livestock development project, which focuses on the development of animal production, animal health, capacity building, project management and provision of credit, was being implemented in the district.
He said some people had been trained in yoghurt production, which has become good
business for some of them, especially those in Adidome and Mafi-Kumase.
According to Mr Addey, his ministry had introduced pigeon, pea and stylozanthes to farmers.
He said under a pro-poor intervention, cockerels, sheep and goats which have been bred in some improved ways were distributed to farmers to improve their breeds.
Mr Addey added that a cassava grating machine with accessories was given to some farmers groups at Amerlokope and Tsikudokope in addition to tractors sold to them at reduced prices.
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