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250 tractors, implements procured for smallholder farmers to boost agric production

Government in collaboration with Knight Transfer of Technology, a Czech-based technological entity, has procured 250 modernised mini tractors and implements for small and medium-scale farmers in the country.

This forms part of efforts in achieving the goals for the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJs) programme.

The implements comprised hand-held machines, mini tractors, double-sided ploughs, trailers, mulchers, boom sprayers, mist blowers, threshers, rotovetess, corn crushers and rice rippers.

The equipment would, among other things, enable the farmers to do land preparation, planting and harvesting.

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They were procured through a public-private partnership at a cost of €10 million, an interest-free loan facility from the Czech Republic Export Bank.

Director of Agricultural Engineering Services Directorate (AESD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture Mr Amatus Deyand said the implements would boost agriculture in the country as it would augment activities of smallholder farmers.

“The set of agriculture implement have been subsidised as government has taken 40 per cent of the original cost of the machines which ranges between GH₵18,000 and GH₵ 125,000 ,” he said.

According to Mr Deyand, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture was poised to help small and medium-scale farmers have access to suitable and modernised machines to increase production.

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“The vision of the Ministry is to equip, especially small and medium-scale farmers, with appropriate mechanisation options to ease the laborious work associated with farming operations and to ultimately enhance productivity,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer of the Knight Transfer of Technology, Dr Karl Laryea said the procurement of the implement was the company’s contribution to realising of the PFJs programme by helping farmers move from the traditional farming to a mechanized system.

In order to develop implements to suit the agriculture conditions in Ghana, Dr Laryea noted that some Ghanaians were sent to Czech for training.

These individuals, according to Dr Laryea, “can now assemble, operate and service both the Cabrio Compact and Global Multipurpose Mini Tractors.”

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The equipment was showcased at the Awutu Camp Prison in the Central Region last Friday.

Speaking at the event, the District Director of Agriculture for Awutu Senya East, Mr A. K. B. Beyang  urged small and medium-scale farmers to harness resources to buy and use the equipment to boost agricultural production.

Source: Ghanaian Times

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 Intake of ‘Gobe’ can prevent heart diseases —Nutritionists

Gari and beans is good for the heart
Gari and beans is good for the heart

Nutritionists have advised Ghanaians to eat more beans-based meals, including the popular local dish, gari and beans, also known as ‘Gobe’ to prevent heart diseases. They said incidenc­es of obesity and cancer could be minimised with the regular intake of beans meals.

At a programme in Accra to mark the World Pulses ( Beans) Day on Monday, Mr Wise Chukudi Letsa, Nu­tritionist and Dietician, who spoke on the topic: ‘Beans: The Super Food for Healthy Living and Healthy Farmlands,’ admonished Ghanaians to include beans in their diets.

Mr Letsa said beans was rich in protein, fibre, vitamins, miner­als, irons and other nutrients and contained just a little fat. Mr Letsa, a Nutritionist with Lets Consult, stated that the presence of those nutrients in beans explained why its intake could prevent heart diseases and other ailments, hence the need to consume it regularly.

The event, dubbed: ‘Meatless Monday’ was organised by the Com­munications Initiative for Change (CIC), a Ghanaian non-profit organ­isation.

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The ‘Meatless Monday’ is an initiative aimed at encouraging Ghanaians to reduce their intake of meat by taking in more beans-based meals on every Monday of a week.

It was launched after the United Nations in 2019, set aside Febru­ary 10 to celebrate and encourage the consumption of pulses (beans) worldwide. This year’s celebration was hinged on the theme: ‘Bringing Diversity to Agrifood Systems.’

Mr Peter Agbovi, National Secre­tary, Chefs Association of Ghana, said a variety of meals could be prepared with beans, which include Waakye (rice and beans), Kose (beans paste made into cakes), Ayikple, Aboboi, Tuo Zaafi, Akyeke, and kakro.

He encouraged Ghanaians to con­sume more of those foods to stay healthy.

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Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, the Ex­ecutive Director, CIC, indicated that even if people could not eat beans-based meals regularly, efforts should be made to consume them every Monday.

He said that was the essence of the introduction of the ‘Meatless Monday’ initiative. -GNA

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 Restore beauty of Kwame Nkrumah Circle area / State of Kwame Nkrumah Circle an eyesore!

A homeless man sleeping in the sand close to the removed blocks
A homeless man sleeping in the sand close to the removed blocks

Small size quarry stones fixed at open spac­es under the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange was to leave the place open and free from activities of beggars and other activities of the homeless.

By the way the stones were fixed, it makes the area, particularly the VIP and Neoplan Station stretch of the Interchange, inhabit­able by the destitute.

But a walk through the area currently suggest the opposite.

At the median where pavement blocks have been taken over by these home­less and destitute, the area has been turned into a hotel where a number of these unfortunate ones have com­fortably laid their mattress­es and other stuff to rest from the day’s activities.

They have crossed over to the SSNIT and Kaneshie Station area with their activ­ities and have removed the quarry stones which were to ward them off the place to enable them find spaces to sleep comfortably.

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The pavement blocks re­moved from different loca­tions under the interchange now serves as foundations on which beds were laid and in some cases, mosquito nets erected.

Their continued pres­ence is not only creating a nuisance for commuters but marring the beauty and serenity of the place.

Sadly, the activities of these deprived fellows have been ignored while the numbers keep increasing day by day.

The Spectator finds the development very worrying and calls on the responsible authorities to clear the area to restore the beauty and serenity of the area.

 By Victor A. Buxton

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