Give us seized galamsey water pumps for production - vegetable farmers

A  two-time best vegetable farmer, Mr Benjamin Afrane, has appealed to the government under its "Operation Halt" campaign to divert all seized water pumps to farmers to assist in irrigation.

He said rather than burning the equipment, they could be of great help to vegetable farmers in promoting all-year-round productivity.

"Come to think of it, government can even use these equipment to enhance its flagship programme, Planting for Food and Jobs," he said.

Occasion

Mr Afrane made the appeal during a visit by a team from the European Union to the Kwadaso Agric College under its  "EU Archipelago Project, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and Kwadaso Agricultural College."

The team is in Ghana to help improve entrepreneurial and horticultural education and create jobs in the horticulture sector.

The partnership is focused on the Kwadaso Agricultural College and supported by TU Delft for the entrepreneurial skills and supported by the private sector and Holland Greentech.

Vision

The vision is to turn Kwadaso Agric College into a Centre of Excellence for horticulture and an example for other agricultural colleges.

They do this by partnering lead farmers, value chain stakeholders and knowledge institutes.

Fertiliser

Mr Afrane appealed to the government to supply subsidised fertilisers and other farm inputs throughout the year to increase farm produce.

He promised to train other farmers under the programme to enhance the horticulture industry.

Director

The Oforikrom Municipal Director of Agriculture,Mr Samuel Kofi Tekpor, urged graduates in the sector to create their own businesses and stop relying on the government for jobs.

He tasked the youth to see farming as a sustainable and profitable venture, and urged the youth to consider farming as a business venture which required in-depth knowledge to remain relevant.

Field visit

The team visited the lead farmer, Mr Benjamin Afrane's, farm located at Boadi (Oforikrom District).

Crops planted included broccoli, sweet pepper, cucumber and cauliflower on his demo-plot.

The project is being funded by the European Union's Archipelago programme.

Background

Working together with lead farmers is part of the four-month training module that has been developed by the EU.

It involves lead farmers because they can provide internships and future employment to the participants.