Accra: John Dumelo, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, has urged farmers in Ketu North District to adopt dry season farming practices to ensure continuous food production and enhance their livelihoods. During a working visit to Weta in the Ketu North Constituency, Mr. Dumelo highlighted the economic and food security advantages of growing crops such as tomatoes, onions, peppers, okro, and garden eggs during the dry season.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Dumelo encouraged the farmers by saying, 'I want to encourage you to consider dry season farming.' He offered support, including the provision of small water pumps for irrigation, and emphasized that year-round farming could help stabilize food prices and position Ketu North as a leader in vegetable production. The Deputy Minister's remarks were made while distributing fertilizers to farmers under the government's 'Feed Ghana Project.'
Mr. Dumelo noted that Ketu North was the first district in the Volta Region to receive fertilizer support through the initiative and urged farmers to utilize it effectively. He stated, 'The aim of the Feed Ghana Project is simple-let's feed ourselves, feed Ghana, and export the rest.' He expressed his commitment to making the Volta Region the breadbasket of Ghana by ensuring that farmers receive the necessary support.
Furthermore, Mr. Dumelo announced plans to establish a Farm Service Centre in Ketu North, which would provide essential farming inputs such as tractors, combined harvesters, fertilizers, and seeds to improve farming accessibility and efficiency. He commended the MP for Ketu North, Mr. Eric Edem Agbana, praising him for his dedication and hard work.
MP Eric Edem Agbana expressed gratitude to the Deputy Minister for his visit and support for the farmers. He reiterated the government's commitment to addressing past administrative issues and advancing the development agenda. He provided an update on the dam project, revealing that he had been in regular contact with the Deputy Minister and World Bank officials to expedite its rehabilitation.
Mr. Agbana mentioned that an excavator brought in four months ago was already benefiting farmers and disclosed plans for Brazilian investors to cultivate over 3,000 hectares of land in the area. He assured farmers that the World Bank dam rehabilitation project would be executed carefully to avoid disrupting existing farms and called on the community to support the engineers.
Farmers in the area expressed their gratitude to the Deputy Minister and the MP for their support, pledging to make the most of the assistance provided. They praised the government's vision to transform the Volta Region into the breadbasket of Ghana and reaffirmed their commitment to contributing to national food security.
