As part of efforts to ensure that the country weans itself from the importation of rice based on the vision of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Member of Parliament for Twifo-Atti-Morkwa Constituency in the Central Region has raised an amount of GH¢40,000 from his “social investment fund” to support rice and cocoa farmers in his constituency.
Abraham Dwuma Odoom made this known at a ceremony to demonstrate a new method of technology namely Ecogrow Organic Liquid Fertilizer.
The technology was introduced by experts from BioGrow Africa Ltd.
District Manager for Cocoa Health Extension Division Felix Kwame Quianoo called on cocoa and rice farmers to adopt the new technology in farming to improve their yield.
According to him, the new technology will be in the farmers’ own interest.
In an interview, BioGrow African Ltd agronomist Bismark Bayama Atimbire said introducing of Ecogrow Organic Liquid Fertilizer on cocoa, rice and vegetables will reduce pest and insect diseases to at least 50 per cent while cost of production will come down.
Profit is also expected to go up, according to Mr Atimbire, and the technology has no side effect and can be used for all crops at all stages of growth.
“If a farmer used 1 litre container of the Ecogrow Organic Fertilizer, it will be able to take care of 1.25 acres of land when it comes to tree crops,” he said. “On the same 1 litre also will take care of 1.25 acres or one hector of land.”
“This organic fertilizer will reduce pests and insects meaning that the farmers will acquire least pesticide and the cost of production will come down,” he explained to 3news.com’s Central Region correspondent Kwame Kakraba.
Mr Atimbire said generally Ghanaian farmers spend much money on reducing pests and insects in farming.
He said the introduction of new product will help the farmers to save money, therefore appealing to the Ghana Cocoa Board to support the farmers in acquiring the new product.
He commended the Member of Parliament for bringing them to share their experiences with the farmers in his constituency.
MP Abraham Dwuma Odoom, whose initiative the programme was organized, said the introduction of the new product will reduce the cost farmers have to pay in production.
“I have dedicated my MP ‘Social Investment Fund’, GH¢40,000 yearly, to support cocoa and rice development projects to buy the new Ecogrow Organic Fertilizers for the farmers.
“Half GH¢20,000 goes to cocoa farmers and other half also for rice farmers.”
He revealed that the country is embarking on a rice development strategy under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and other programmes which Ghana is looking forward to enable it wean itself from importation of rice, “a vision and the mission that I am seriously committed to”.
“Therefore as somebody who believes in such project I need to step forward to supporting this initiative of a new technology organic fertilizer which if successful can lead us and the mission of the Ministry of Agric.”
By Kwame Kakarba|3news.com|Twifo-Atti-Morkwa, Central Region|Ghana