GOVT URGED TO GRANT LONG-TERM LOANS TO FARMERS (PAGE 22, JAN 15, 2011)

A farmer in the Brong Ahafo Regional Nana Yaa Badu, has appealed to the government to grant long term loans to farmers to enable them to expand their farms.
She said that would encourage farmers to diversify their crops by growing more cashew, pepper, maize and also engage in poultry and fish farming to settle the loans which would be granted them.
Nana Badu made the appeal at a meeting with a cross-section of farmers at Senase, near Berekum.
She expressed concern about indiscriminate bush burning in the municipality that had resulted in bush fires in the municipality, destroying large quantities of agricultural produce.
Nana Badu, therefore, appealed to the municipal assembly to provide logistics such as uniforms and wellington boots to the fire volunteers to ensure effective prevention of fire.
She stressed the need for farmers to invest in the education of their children up to the university level for them to become responsible adults in the future since education is the key to success in life.
Nana Badu admonished the farmers to refrain from wasting their money on marrying many women and expensive funerals.
She reminded the farmers that the increase in the producer price of cocoa to GH¢200 was to help them to sponsor their children’s education and to ensure an improvement in their standard of living.
Nana Badu implored the farmers to cultivate the habit of saving with the banks to enable them to secure financial assistance, whenever they were in need.
As an opinion leader of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Nana Badu advised the youth of the party not to take the law into their own hands by removing Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) from office which did not augur well for party unity and cohesion.
She, therefore, advised them to be disciplined and law abiding by impressing upon the MDCEs to deliver qualitative leadership to the people.
She commended the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, for his outstanding performance in the region, describing him as the "action man of the year."