The Atiwa East District Assembly has distributed fertilizer to selected farmers across the district as part of efforts to support agricultural production, improve crop yields and enhance food security.
The initiative forms part of government’s broader interventions to provide farmers with essential agricultural inputs to increase productivity and improve the livelihoods of farming households. The fertilizer is expected to enable beneficiary farmers to improve soil fertility and enhance the production of various crops cultivated within the district.
Addressing the beneficiaries during the distribution exercise, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atiwa East, Hon. Ernest Owusu Ntim, apologised to the farmers for the delay in making the fertilizer available. He explained that the intervention was aimed at complementing the efforts of farmers and supporting them to achieve improved yields during the farming season.
Hon. Owusu Ntim reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to supporting the agricultural sector, noting that agriculture remains a major contributor to the socio-economic development of the district. He encouraged farmers to make prudent and judicious use of the fertilizer and ensure that it was applied strictly for its intended purpose.
The DCE further urged farmers to adopt improved farming methods, work closely with Agricultural Extension Officers and take advantage of government interventions designed to enhance agricultural productivity. He emphasised that effective collaboration among farmers, the Assembly and relevant agricultural stakeholders was essential to achieving sustainable development in the sector.
The District Director of Agriculture also advised the beneficiary farmers to apply the fertilizer according to the recommended rates and methods for their respective crops. He encouraged them to seek technical guidance from Agricultural Extension Officers whenever necessary to ensure the effective use of the input and maximise crop yields.
He further urged farmers to embrace improved agricultural practices and maintain close collaboration with the Department of Agriculture. He expressed appreciation to the government and the District Assembly for the support and reminded beneficiaries that the fertilizer was provided specifically to enhance agricultural production and should therefore be used solely for its intended purpose.
The beneficiary farmers expressed their appreciation to the government and the District Assembly for the support. They, however, appealed for the timely distribution of agricultural inputs in subsequent farming seasons to enable them to plan effectively and make maximum use of such interventions.
The distribution exercise brought together farmers engaged in the cultivation of various crops across communities in the district. The intervention is expected to contribute to increased crop production, improved household incomes and enhanced food security within the Atiwa East District.
The programme ended with a call for continued collaboration among farmers, the District Assembly, the Department of Agriculture and other stakeholders to strengthen the agricultural sector and promote sustainable food production in the district.
