SHAI-OSUDOKU DISTRICT MARKS FARMERS'DAY CELEBRATION WITH A DEPARTURE FROM TRADITION.

SHAI-OSUDOKU DISTRICT MARKS FARMERS'DAY CELEBRATION WITH A DEPARTURE FROM TRADITION.

The Shai-Osudoku District Assembly has marked the 39th edition of this year's Farmers Day Celebration in a low- key fashion in view of the after-effects of the tragedy that hit most farmers in the district as a result of the Akosombo Dam Spillage.

In a marked departure from tradition, the assembly decided to procure and distribute farming inputs including fertilizers, cutlass, weedicide, cassava stick among others to the farmers to enable them revive their farming operations.

A team led by the District Chief Executive (DCE) Hon. Fred Offei, the Coordinating Director,Dr.Mrs Elizabeth Ampaw-Deletsa,Presiding Member Hon. Noah Sabutey, the District Director of Agriculture, Madam Esinam Akosua Bonsu, the District Health Director,Rev.Dr Ebenezer Asiamah among others and a donor partner representative from Green Energy Ghana, Madam Sheila Hanson inspected the items to be distributed to the affected farmers.

The team was divided into three groups in order to ensure a speedy and successful exercise with each group carrying the provided request from the affected farmers.

Group 1 visited Djorkpo,Lawhenya,Abuvienu,Abuviepon,Tokpo,Asilevikope and Agamahkope.

Group 2 visited 

Adakope,Kasunya,Kotokor,Sauhe,Atsavanya

Group 3 visited

Volivo,Avapko,Klebuse,Kewum,Astrobinya,Kadjanya/Domeliam.

At a brief ceremony held at the forecourt of the assembly, The District Chief Executive Hon. Offei thanked all staff particularly staff of the agricultural department for their dedicated effort to make this year's celebration a success in spite of the unprecedented challenge.

He said as a district known for its traditional farming potential, it was significant no effort was spared to ensure that agriculture was given the topmost priority adding that the district would continue to implement the Planting for Food and Jobs programme to achieve food security.

He said the celebration of the event in the district took a different dimension because most farmers have lost their products to the Akosombo Dam spillage.

According to him, the distribution could not be done on a single day as such it would be done based on three categories starting with crop farmers followed by fish and rice farmers.

He called on corporate organizations and donor agencies to rally to the support of the distressed farmers to help them regain their livelihoods.

The District Director of Agriculture, Madam Akosua Bonsu underscored the importance of the exercise saying that it was to assure all affected farmers that the assembly stands side by side with them and cannot abandoned them in their distress times.

She said it was on that basis the assembly decided to give all farmers a share of the farming inputs to enable them restart their normal farming activities.

In conclusion, the exercise was very successful with all the farmers expressing appreciation for the support given them.

SOURCE:ISD(SODA)