The District Chief Executive for Wa East District Assembly of the Upper West Region, Hon. Dr. Suleman Ewurah Kandia Mahama, has described poor road network, and other human activities as serious impediments that hinder the toils and efforts of actors in the agricultural sector.
The DCE made these known while addressing the Chiefs and people of the Wa East District at Kulkpong during the celebration of the district’s edition of the 37th National Farmers’ Day on Friday 3rd of December, 2021.
“There is therefore the need to identify and isolate what has not worked for actors along the value chain, spanning from: farmers, Development Partners, Business Community, Technical Experts, and the Media. Ladies and gentlemen, some of the challenges identified include the following: Poor quality of roads making extension delivery very cumbersome, destruction of farms by alien Fulani Herdsmen and some resident cattle owners, indiscriminate logging in the district, especially rosewood and other economic trees,” the DCE identifies.
Hon. Suleman also decries the prevalence of bushfires and its negative implication on crops and grazing lands that need to be curtailed. ‘
“Bush burning is one of the prevalent cancers that is destroying crops, crops residue, and grazing lands,” the DCE added.
He indicated that, since his assumption into office as DCE for the District, he has since, initiated some pragmatic and aggressive measures to arrest such challenges, citing the opening of roads in collaboration with the department of feeder road from Kundugu to Bellikpong and others across the district.
“Distinguished Ladies gentlemen, I have therefore since assuming office, prioritized the opening up of roads to hard-to-reach areas. This is intended to help transport farm inputs to farming communities and also to transport farm produce with ease to market centers.
“My office has therefore in collaboration with the Department of Feeder Roads awarded a contract for the opening up of the road from Kundugu to Bellekpong, in addition to the ongoing road works district wide,” Dr. Suleman revealed.
Dr. Suleman Ewurah also hinted that, the Wa East District Assembly headed by him, would be spearheading the establishment of bylaws, aimed at regulating activities and movement of alien Fulani herdsmen and their cattle, not excluding native cattle owners, particularly in the rainy season.
“Let me also add that, I intend spearheading the passage of bye-laws, to regulate the movement of animals during the rainy season.
I would therefore like to use this platform to solicit your support, to ensure that the intended bye-laws see the light of day to help protect our farms,” the DCE appealed.
As December onwards is characterized by harmattan wind particularly in the northern sector of the counytry, the DCE used the event of the National Farmers’ Day Celebration to appeal to the revered Traditional Authorities and other stakeholders to endeavor to sensitize residents of their respective communities against bush burning.
A past winner of the District Best Farmer, Alhaji Mahama Sulemen from Bulenga, at the sidelines of the 37th Farmers’ day at Kulkpong, appealed to the youth in general to embrace farming and agriculture in general.
He argues that, agriculture has sharply shifted from subsistence purposes to a lucrative and well-paying business.
Mr. Mahama also advised colleague farmers to adopt new agricultural technologies and best practices to increase yield.