By a Correspondent
Government says it has drawn up a comprehensive programme to transform the Fumbisi enclave in the Upper East Region into an economic zone to embrace the huge socio-economic potentials in the area.
Already, government has started the process to set up Rice Mills and Warehouses to process the rice produced in the area.
Government is also set to establish an Agriculture Institute to provide the knowledge base critically required to develop and promote agriculture in the area.
Chief Executive Officer of National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Alhaji Hanan Abdul-Wahab made the disclosures when he toured the area on campaign visit to communities in the Builsa South District.
He paid courtesy call on the Chief of Fumbisi and his elders who shared varied ideas on wide range of issues with him and his entourage.
The Fumbisi area has become a rice production center with hundreds of farmers venturing into rice farming following the advent of the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme, which offers improved seedlings, fertilizers and agro inputs at subsidized rates to farmers. The Buffer Stock CEO took the opportunity to draw the attention of the people to the good policies and programmes by the NPP government to turn the Fumbisi Enclave into a huge economic zone based on its viability and potential for agriculture. “By deliberately strengthening institutions such as the National Food Buffer Stock Company which His Excellency asked me to head, you have had your excess paddy rice mopped up during the last cropping season and this benefitted the farmers here greatly”, Alhaji Hanan told the people.
Mr. Abdul-Wahab who is also a member of the Upper East Regional NPP Campaign Team for Elections 2020 told them government will continue to subsidize agro inputs and ensure the lives of farmers are particularly improved. “There’s a huge potential of rice valley that are yet to be tapped. Government intends to develop the rest of the valleys and make it the biggest Valle in the country”, he added.
He explained that the presidents promise to cut the importation of rice was mainly looking to developing the huge agricultural potential in Fumbisi which meant that the chunk of the money used in the importation of rice will remain in Fumbisi as a result of import substitution.
He urged the people to vote massively for the NPP in the coming elections so that government execute programmes for the area most of which have already taken off.
The Chiefs and elders were very appreciative to the team and singled out the Free SHS for praise.
While in the town, Mr. Abdul-Wahab also addressed NPP party Executives and Constituency campaign team. He then proceeded to Kanjarga Community where I also called on the chiefs and elders who complained about their roads but assured of their support in the coming elections.
There too, he took the opportunity to address the party youth to energize them. Gbedema was my next stop.
Prior to addressing the NPP youth here, I paid courtesy call on the chiefs and elders who were very receptive and welcoming. Hanan and his team also visited Bolgatanga Central where he met an NPP youth group based here, Youth Patriots to discuss strategies for victory on December 7.
