About 56,000 youth in the Upper East Region have thus far benefited from the Block Farming Programme under the government’s initiated Youth in Agriculture programme.

The young men and women are cultivating maize, Soya beans, pepper, rice and onion on a farmland area of about 300 hectors with an expected yield capable of sustaining the food security requirement of the region by more than half.   

The estimated value seed input is 754,875 and the gross income per each farmer would be GH¢2,640.   My search reveled that the government had provided farm equipment including combine harvesters, tractors and fertilizers for the programme.  The programme was designed to provide food and money for the socio-economic development of the citizenry. an Italian firm and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) were collaborating with the company to feed the Pwalungu Tomato Factory during the tomato seasons.    

The Fumbisi and Gbedembisi Valley in the Builsa District would have 496.36 hectors of farmland cultivated for rice and other cereals.   From all indications, government is committed to ensuring food security for the people and that a number of programmes had been developed to achieve this aim.   

I visited Mr. Norbert Awuley, Builsa District Chief Executives, who accompanied my team to some farms, said the assembly was prepared to support the farmers to provide food for the nation and called on the youth to see farming as a lucrative venture which could bring fortune into their lives.