Farmers advised to seek information on proper use of agro-chemicals

Farmers had been advised to get the right information on agro-chemicals from agricultural agents and apply them correctly as any misapplication could be harmful.

Dr George Okyere-Boateng, Eastern Regional Co-ordinator of the Research Extension Farmers Linkage Committee (RELC), gave the advice at a day’s workshop at Asamankese.

It was organised for stakeholders in agriculture at the West Akyem Municipality to discuss challenges facing farmers.

He advised the farmers to take advantage of the high yielding and early maturing cassava that had been introduced of which planting materials were being supplied to farmers.

Dr Okyere-Boateng urged the farmers to adopt modern farming techniques and attach the greatest importance to farm sanitation by ensuring that their farms were cleared of weeds.

He advised oil palm growers to get seedlings for their nursery only from the Oil Palm Research Institute (OPRI).

Mr Solomon Afari, Deputy West Akim Municipal Director of the Ministry of Food and Agricultural (MOFA) said the workshop aimed at bringing together farmers and other stakeholders in agriculture to brainstorm and identify problems and find solutions.

Mr Joseph Padi, an agricultural agent, appealed to chiefs and land owners to release land to people wishing to go into agriculture.

He also appealed to the banks and other financial institutions to give farmers loans to improve and increase production.

Mr Padi asked MOFA to register all seed growers and sellers to ensure that they produced and sold the right quality seeds.

He advised the farmers against late harvesting as a means of reducing post harvest losses since crops if not harvested early could easily be attacked by pests.

Mr Padi urged farmers to form crop associations so that they could dictate prices of produce in order not to be cheated.

Source: GNA