Dawhenya-Ghana, Dec. 09, – Mr. Prince Ofori-Boateng, the Ningo-Prampram District Director for Agriculture, has bemoaned the rate at which the district is losing its arable farmlands, posing a threat to farming activities in the area.
Mr. Ofori-Boateng said the district agricultural lands were being sold to estate developers for the construction of residential buildings.
Speaking at the district’s commemoration of the 39th Farmers’ Day celebration, he added that infrastructural development and illegal sand-winning activities were also contributing to the loss of arable land in the district.
The district, which is made up of the Ningo and Prampram Traditional areas, has about 60 percent of its 622.2 square kilometres of arable land and about 25 percent of it mainly savannah grassland, which supports the rearing of livestock.
The district, which has the Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme, is known for the cultivation of major crops including cassava, rice, maize, mangos, bananas, watermelon, tomatoes, okro, and pepper.
The District Agric Director appealed to land owners and authorities to consider reserving such arable lands to sustain farming activities in the district and ensure food security.
He said that in recent times, agribusiness has become an important aspect of agriculture; therefore, the Department has intensified its post-production training and stakeholder engagement to link farmers to markets.
He further noted that local farmers in the area through the trainings, were now venturing into small-scale agro-processing, indicating that it was exhibiting growth potential and looking promising.
Al-Latiff Tetteh Amanor, the District Chief Executive (DCE), advised farmers and fishermen to adopt a sustainable and modern approach to their fishing and agricultural activities to enhance their productivity and efficiency.
Mr. Amanor said there was a need to add value to their produce through processing and proper packaging to attract the needed market and profit.
Mr. Emmanuel Addo Adelah, the 2023 Ningo-Prampram District Best Farmer, on his part, appealed to the government and authorities to assist farmers in the area with fertiliser, tractors, and other farm inputs to upscale their farming activities in the district.
He also asked for the creation of ready markets for their produce to ensure they do not record post-harvest losses.
