Tuesday, December 22, 2009

YOUTH ADVISED TO TAKE INSPIRATION IN FARMING (BACK PAGE, DEC 22)

THE Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has advised the youth to take inspiration from the achievements of this year’s national best farmer and go into farming.
He gave the advice when Mr Davies Nene Korboe, the 36-year-old Somanya-based National Best Farmer, called on him at his office in Koforidua at the weekend.
Nene Korboe was accompanied by Messrs Abraham Edusei and Richmond Amponsah, the Eastern Regional Best and Second Best farmers, respectively, for this year and Mr Stephen Agyeman, the region’s best farmer for 2007.
Also present were the Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr K. Ocloo, and other officials of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
According to Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, the region had large tracts of arable land and the youth could take inspiration from the achievement of Nene Korboe and go into farming.
That, he said, would not only reduce unemployment among the youth but also enable them to generate appreciable incomes for their livelihood.
“There is dignity in farming and you should take advantage of the large stretch of arable land and go into agriculture to earn a living,” he stated.
The regional minister stated that his administration was prepared to give the necessary incentives to help boost agriculture in the region.
He announced that a group of investors from Italy would soon be in the region to process fruits for export.
For his part, Nene Korboe expressed his appreciation to the government for honouring him, adding that it would not motivate only him but also the youth, particularly those in the Somanya area, to go into farming.
He called on the government to extend facilities offered to cocoa farmers to those cultivating other crops, as well as others in aquaculture and livestock.
Earlier, Mr Ocloo had briefed the regional minister on steps being taken by his outfit to improve crop yield in the districts.

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