The Mfantseman District Director of Agriculture, Mrs. Felicia Ansah-Amprofi has commended the government for enticing the youth into agriculture through the Youth Employment Programme (YEP).

Mrs. Ansah-Amprofi described the effort as timely since the youth were not showing interest in “taking over the mantle from our aged farmers” to feed the nation.

Speaking to newsmen at Ekumfi Essuehyia, the venue for the district celebration of the Farmers' Day slated for next Friday, the Agriculture Director admonished persons in charge of the YEP to desist from acts that could hamper its success as its failure could affect the country’s food security.

Mrs. Ansah-Amprofi was inspecting preparations being made for the celebration of the Day.

She commended organizers of the 22nd edition of the Farmers Day for adopting: Youth Employment Programme, Venue for sustaining Agriculture Development Programme" as its theme.

Seventy youths in the District have responded to the government's call to go back to the land, she noted, saying the District Assembly and her Directorate ware making every effort to make their work a success.

The Director said the youths had been provided with seeds, agro-chemicals and money for clearing the land and weeding the farms after planting.

Each one of them received 200,000 a month as maintenance allowance until their crops matured for harvesting she said and added that they would be supported with additional money for harvesting the crops.

Mrs. Ansah-Amprofi expressed satisfaction about the arrangements made so far and appealed to the authorities to release funds for the celebration of the Day in time for the necessary items to be procured.

She appealed to farmers, fishermen, fish mongers and agro-processors to turn up in their numbers for a successful celebration.

Source: GNA