Tamale (N/R), June 25, – The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has adopted measures aimed at increasing crop, fisheries and livestock production in the Northern Region. In the region’s 1997 Agricultural plan made public today in Tamale and in which various interventions are spelt out, the ministry said ”only 25 per cent of the region’s 6.7 million hectares of land is under cultivation with a production system characterised by low technology”. The plan therefore stresses the need to tap the vast potential of the region by intensifying the existing farming systems, using improved on-the-shelf technologies and expansion into the area. The Ministry is to introduce 70 additional new tractors into the region to solve the problem of inadequate tractor and bullock services and also provide spare parts to maintain old ones. A total of 156 farmers would be trained on correct ploughing with tractors and bullocks on slopes to stem the poor tillage practices. The plan also envisages that 3,680 mini bags of certified seed would be provided by the ministry to solve the problem of inadequate seed supply. The ministry will train 2,000 farmers on the construction of improved cribs to forestall post-harvest losses and also promote the adoption of a biological control agent on the larger grain borer.
