PFJ: Agric Minister Warns Developers To Stop Encroaching Farm Lands

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has issued a stern warning to people encroaching farm lands to desist.

He issued the warning after his one-day tour of the Ashanti Region where he interacted with stakeholders.

Some of the places he toured were livestock farms at Amanfrom, Packhouse at Gyinyase, Samtak Poultry Farms at Homaase among others.

Speaking with Wontumionline’s Nana Owusu Achiaw after the tour, he said the biggest challenge for the farmers is developers who build houses on water ways.

He explained that, if the developers encroach the water ways, it blocks the passage of the water thereby making it difficult for farmers to get water to plant their crops.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto indicated, that he pleaded with the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to intervene for the developers to stop the act after he paid a courtesy call on him.

He further said the climate change is also another challenge for the farmers.

He elaborated that, the late rain of the water did not help the farmers to plant their crops, but now it has started raining, it is his fervent wish the crops will grow well.

The sector Minister commended the farmers in the Region for embracing the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.

“20,000 farmers have engaged in the planting for food and jobs. I’m hoping by next year about 350,000 will join,” he stated.

He noted that most of the foods that will be on the market will come from the Region.