The Chief Executive Officer for Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Osei Assibey Antwi, has called on residents in Kumasi to make good use of their backyards by developing them into farms.
He said intensification of backyard farming will not only help to feed themselves but to also augment food production in the metropolis.
He indicated that rapid urbanisation of the Kumasi metropolis has taken over about 90% of the arable lands for farming in favour of construction of buildings and other social infrastructure.
However, hesaid, the backyard of lands being used for buildings could still be developed into farms.
He, therefore, finds it prudent for residents in kumasi to utilise any small portion of land available at their residence and develop them into farms.
He cited the regime of Kutu Acheampong where “Operation Feed Yourself programme” was introduced.
He said each and every Ghanaian was made to go into farming by at least having a backyard farm to feed themselves.
He said the regime was commendable and urged residents of Kumasi to revisit to help produce more food.
He said this at the occasion of the 33rd anniversary celebration of the annual farmers’ day organised by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly held at Atwima Techiman.
About 20 farmers were awarded for their contributions towards food security in the country.
A 40 year old farmer from Kumasi Dakojom, Mr Maxwell Kwaku Asankoma, was crowned the overall best farmer in the Kumasi metropolis.
He went home with Knapsack, TV set, mattress, cutlasses among other things.
Mr Osei Assibey, said the most important agricultural activities in the metropolis was only vegetable farming.
He said all the vegetable in kumasi market, especially spring onion, lettuce and cabbage are now produced within Kumasi.
Currently, he said Kumasi is now the leading producer of spring onions and lettuce in the Ashanti region.
He, therefore, urged the youth in kumasi to move into agriculture.
The overall best farmer in the kumasi metropolis, Mr Maxwell Kwaku Asankoma, appealed to government to help farmers in terms of securing loans from banks to expand their production.
By Kwadwo Antwi Boasiako | Akoma FM |3news.com